six o'clock
There was not much to watch , not more than a dozen customers during the entire time , and those bought but little . The hardest part of the experience for her was to see how eager her uncles were to please each caller and how anxiously each watched the other 's efforts and the result . To see Zoeth at the desk poring over the ledger , his lips moving and the pencil trembling in his fingers , was as bad as , but no worse than , to see Captain Shadrach , a frown on his face and his hands in his pockets , pace the floor from the back door to the front window , stop , look up the road , draw a long breath that was almost a groan , then turn and stride back again . At six o'clock Mary , who had reasons of her own for wishing to be left alone in the store , suggested that she remain there while her uncles went home for supper . Neither Mr. Hamilton nor the Captain would consent , so she was obliged to go to the house herself and send Isaiah up once more to act as shopkeeper . But at eleven that night , after unmistakable sounds from their rooms were furnishing proofs that both partners of Hamilton and Company were asleep , she tiptoed downstairs , put on her coat and hat , took the store keys from the nail where Zoeth always hung them , and went out . She did not return until almost three .