night about nine
o'clock
Our decision in the case of one of the houses must not be delayed a day , for a gentleman had seen it and wanted to take it , only as the agent in charge of it considered that we had ` the first refusal , ' he had written to beg my father to send some one to see it at once . `` And thus it came about that Mary and I set off by ourselves in this dreary fashion only two days before Christmas ! Mother had proposed our taking a servant , but as we knew that the only one who would have been any use to us was the one of _ most _ use to mother , we declared we should much prefer the ` independence ' of going by ourselves . `` By dint of much examination of Bradshaw we had discovered that it was possible , just possible , to get to East Hornham the same night about nine o'clock . '' ` That will enable us to get to bed early , after we have had some supper , and the next day we can devote to seeing the two houses , one or other of which _ must _ suit us , ' said Mary , cheerfully . ` And starting early again the next day we may hope to be back with you on Christmas eve , mother dear . ' `` The plan seemed possible enough , -- one day would suffice for the houses , as there was no need as yet to go into all the details of the apportionment of rooms , and so on .