half past ten o'clock
`` No , no , I 'm afraid not , '' agreed William , perplexedly , rising to his feet . `` But we must think -- what can be done . '' His step was even slower than usual as he left the room , and his eyes were troubled . At half past ten o'clock on the evening following Mrs. Stetson 's very plain talk with William , the telephone bell at the Beacon Street house rang sharply . Pete answered it . `` Well ? '' -- Pete never said `` hello . ''