eight o'clock
`` I sha 'n' t ! '' ejaculated the candidate to himself , his old -- time independence asserting itself now that the polls were closed -- and he was right . He did n't have to . The band did not play in his front yard , for at eight o'clock the tide that had set in strong for Perkins turned . At ten , according to votes that had been counted , things were about even , and the ladies retired . At twelve Perkins turned out the gas . `` That settles the lamp question , anyhow , '' he whispered to himself as he went up-stairs , and then he went into Mrs. Perkins 's room .