nearly ten o'clock
If she had discovered a gold mine in the cellar of the little black house , it could not have afforded her so much satisfaction ; for this money was the reward of her son 's talent and energy . Her own earnings scarcely ever amounted to more than three or four dollars a week , and Bobby , a boy of thirteen , had come home with fifteen for five days ' work . She could scarcely believe the evidence other own senses , and she ceased to wonder that he talked big . It was nearly ten o'clock when the widow and her son went to bed , so deeply were they interested in discussing our hero 's affairs . He had intended to call upon Squire Lee that night , but the time passed away so rapidly that he was obliged to defer it till the next day . After breakfast the following morning , he hastened to pay the intended visit . There was a tumult of strange emotions in his bosom as he knocked at the squire 's door .