nine o'clock
Having taken his hand from his servant 's arm , he advanced to meet a lady who stood in the door awaiting him , a tall , elderly woman , gaunt and angular of frame , with a mottled face , and high cheekbones partially covered by bands of hair entirely too black and abundant for a person of her age , if one might judge from the lines of her mouth , which are rarely deceptive in such matters . `` Perhaps you 'd better not send your man away , Mr. Delamere , '' observed the lady , in a high shrill voice , which grated upon the old gentleman 's ears . He was slightly hard of hearing , but , like most deaf people , resented being screamed at . `` You might need him before nine o'clock . One never knows what may happen after one has had the second stroke . And moreover , our butler has fallen down the back steps -- negroes are so careless ! -- and sprained his ankle so that he ca n't stand .