nine o'clock
For this once Jack thought that perhaps he did , but , when Rosie insisted , he promised to behave . From babyhood he had been Rosie 's special charge , so now , when the time came , she took him upstairs and saw him safely to bed . Then she herself slipped down to the front porch and there on the steps , in the dark electric shadow , she waited for her friend , George Riley . Rosie had not long to wait , as George 's run ended at nine o'clock . `` Sst ! Jarge ! '' she called softly as he bounded up the steps and would have passed her in the dark .