eight o'clock
Miss Roxy herself belonged to this class , but sometimes found herself so stoutly overhauled by the guns of Mrs. Kittridge 's battery , that she could only stand modestly on the defensive . One of Mrs. Kittridge 's favorite hobbies was education , or , as she phrased it , the `` fetchin ' up '' of children , which she held should be performed to the letter of the old stiff rule . In this manner she had already trained up six sons , who were all following their fortunes upon the seas , and , on this account , she had no small conceit of her abilities ; and when she thought she discerned a lamb being left to frisk heedlessly out of bounds , her zeal was stirred to bring it under proper sheepfold regulations . `` Come , Sally , it 's eight o'clock , '' said the good woman . Sally 's dark brows lowered over her large , black eyes , and she gave an appealing look to her father . `` Law , mother , let the child sit up a quarter of an hour later , jist for once . '' `` Cap'n Kittridge , if I was to hear to you , there 'd never be no rule in this house .