seven o'clock
Duncan ought to know ; he has slept in one of them , or tried to ; a trial thus far to me denied . From what he has said , however , I shudder to think what will become of me should I ever lose the shelter of Miss Carpenter 's second-story front and be thrown out into a heartless world to choose between the Bigelow House and Frank Tannehill 's Radville Inn ... . Duncan arose and consulted the two-dollar watch which he had left on the pine washstand by the window . It was half-past seven o'clock , and that seemed early to him . He was tired and would willingly have turned in again , but a rueful glance at the couch of his night-long vigil sufficed him . He lifted a hand to Heaven and vowed solemnly : `` Never again ! '' As he bent over the washstand and poured a cupful of water into the china basin , thus emptying the pitcher , he was conscious of a pain in his back ; but a thought cheered him .