eight o'clock
`` What I 've got to say may be kinder private . '' `` Come in , Abner , '' cried Strout , `` and let 's hear what 's on your mind . '' `` Wall , '' said Abner , looking askance at Quincy , `` if yer satisfied , I am . Hiram Maxwell 's jest came down from Mis ' Putnam 's , and Mis ' Heppy Putnam 's dead , '' -- Quincy started on hearing this , -- `` and Samanthy Green is at her wits ' end , 'cause she never was alone in the house with a dead pusson afore , an ' Hiram 's goin ' to take Betsy Green back to stay with her sister , and then he 's goin ' to take Miss Alice Pettengill down home , cuz Miss Pettengill 's most tired out ; cuz , you see , she 's been there since eight o'clock this mornin ' , and Mis ' Putnam did n't die till about one o'clock , and Samanthy says Mis ' Putnam took on awful , so you could hear her all over the house , and Miss Lindy Putnam , she 's goin ' to take the next train to Bosting -- she 's goin ' , bag and baggage -- and I 've got to drive her over to the station , and Bob Wood , he 's comin ' along with a waggin to carry her trunks and bandboxes and sich , and so I 've come to tell yer , Professor , that I ca n't take yer over to the Centre this arternoon , no how . '' `` That 's all right , Abner , '' said Strout ; `` considerin ' as how things has gone , to-morrow will do just as well , but I wish you 'd drop in and tell the town treasurer that I 'm goin ' into business with Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Sawyer here , '' -- Abner 's eyes dilated , -- `` under the firm name of Strout , Maxwell , & Co. '' `` No ! '' interrupted Quincy , `` let the sign read , Strout & Maxwell . '' `` And , '' continued Mr. Strout , `` Mr. Sawyer here is goin ' to push through my app ` intment as postmaster . ''