about eight o'clock
Under the circumstances she thought of Tom Forbes , a strong and stalwart hired man , who had been for some months working on the place . Probably he would not like the task , but she would threaten to discharge him if he refused to obey her commands , and this , she thought , would bring him around . `` I wonder where Jasper is ? '' said Nicholas , about eight o'clock , as he sat opposite the little table where his mother was sewing . `` Gone out , I suppose , '' said Mrs. Kent . `` He found the house too hot to hold him , '' suggested Thorne . `` He certainly will if he conducts himself in the future as he has already done .