nine o'clock
During the summer months of 1834 , I was spending several weeks with a happy married pair , who had tasted the good and ills of life together only a twelvemonth . Both possessed many amiable qualities , and were well calculated to promote each other 's happiness . My second visit to my friends was of a week 's duration , in the month of December . One cold evening the husband returned home at his usual hour at nine o'clock , expecting to find a warm fire for his reception , but , instead , he found a cheerless , comfortless room . His first thought , no doubt , was , that it was owing to the negligence of his wife , and , under this impression , in rather a severe tone , he said , `` This is too bad ; to come in from the office cold , and find no fire ; I really should have thought you might have kept it . '' I sat almost breathless , trembling for the reply . I well knew it was no fault of hers , for she had wasted nearly all the evening , and almost exhausted her patience , in attempting to kindle a fire .