nine o'clock
In the very next breath , however , he answered his own question , and declared it was because they had been living all cooped up alone so long -- so it was ; and that it was high time it was stopped , and that he had come to do it ! Whereupon the old man and the old woman smiled bravely and told each other what a good , good son they had , to be sure ! Friday dawned clear , and not too warm -- an ideal auction-day . Long before nine o'clock the yard was full of teams and the house of people . Among them all , however , there was no sign of the bent old man and the erect little old woman , the owners of the property to be sold . John and Mrs. John were not a little disturbed -- they had lost their father and mother . Nine o'clock came , and with it began the strident call of the auctioneer .