seven o'clock
`` Whom are you going to invite to see your circus , Joel ? '' asked Polly , a few nights later , when , as usual , after supper , Joel was haranguing loudly on the great show to take place , and even little David was wound up to such a pitch of enthusiasm that Mrs. Pepper , on seeing his red cheeks , felt a dozen times inclined to send him to bed ahead of the time . But his happy little face appealed to her strongly , and she argued to herself , `` I do n't know but what ` twould hurt him quite as much to disappoint him , as to let him sit up half an hour longer . Thank fortune , it 's seven o'clock now ! '' So David was saved being sent off to bed , until it was time for Joel to go too . `` I ai n't a-goin ' to invite any one , '' said Joel ; `` no , sir - _ ree ! _ Everybody 's got to pay to come into my show . ''