nine
o'clock
He hesitated . `` I am not sure . But we can always get the people of this cottage to take us along in their boat . It is still early ; only nine o'clock . '' As they walked toward the cottage she noticed that he was short of breath and that he seemed tired . But his manner was cheerful , even inspiriting , and while she took care to remember that he was still in disgrace , she felt her own courage reviving under the influence of his livelier spirits . Besides , as they stepped out of the woods into the open space at the southern end of the point , -- a space about two acres in extent and covered with grass , -- and saw the blue sea on three sides , she found new life in the air that came against her face .