two o'clock
Many a night when she was up late poring over her delivery book , getting ready for the next day 's work , a carriage or cab would drive into the livery-stable next door , and she would send her husband out to bring in the coachman . `` Half froze , he is , waitin ' outside Sherry 's or Delmonico 's , and nobody thinkin ' of what he suffers . Go , git him , John , dear , and I 'll stir up the fire . They ought to be ashamed of themselves , dancin ' till God knows when -- and here it is two o'clock and a string of cabs out in the cold . Thank ye , John . In with ye , my lad , and get something to warm ye up , '' and then the rosy-cheeked , deep-breasted , cheery little woman -- she was under forty -- her eyes the brighter for her thought , would begin pulling down cups and saucers from her dresser , making ready not only for the `` lad , '' but for John and herself -- and anybody else who happened to be within call . The hospitalities of her family sitting-room , opening out of the kitchen , were reserved for her intimates .