nine o'clock
would she admire the ribbon border ? would she appreciate the asparagus which she herself had seen planted ? The old man was quite garrulous and excited , and Frances was pleased to see him so interested in anything . When she had walked with him for nearly an hour she was obliged to devote some time to Watkins in the vegetable garden ; then came dinner ; but after that meal there always was a lull in the day 's occupation for Frances , for the squire went to sleep over his pipe , and never cared to be aroused or spoken to until his strong coffee was brought to him at nine o'clock . On this particular evening Frances felt her heart beat with a pleased and quickened movement . She had her unopened letter to read . She would go to the rose arbor , and have a quiet time there while her father slept .