nine o'clock at
night before
The promoter had an engineer 's estimate of the cost of the entire water system , and said that his original figures had been pretty close . It all seemed feasible , and things looked generally prosperous . Jo enjoyed her ride and the opportunity to see what had been accomplished . Returning , however , the complete enjoyment of the trip was marred by tire trouble , and , with one thing and another , it was nine o'clock at night before the party , reached Ragtown . They were ravenously hungry , and Tweet invited the three to dinner in the town 's closest approach to a satisfactory restaurant . It was after ten o'clock when they left the table . Tweet gallantly asked to accompany Jo to her cabin , and both were laughing at the absurdity of a girl like Jerkline Jo needing an escort , when Hiram Hooker hurried up to them .