evening, about seven o'clock
`` That is sudden . '' `` If I was to give myself time to think , I should never go at all . '' He went out briskly with the energy of this determination . The same evening , about seven o'clock , as he sat reading by the fire , an unexpected visitor was announced -- Mr. Merton . He came cordially in and scolded Meadows for never having been to see him . `` I know you are a busy man , '' said the old farmer , `` but you might have given us a look in coming home from market ; it is only a mile out of the way , and you are pretty well mounted in a general way . '' Then the old man , a gossip , took up one of Meadows ' books .