nine o'clock
'Em ily , my dear child , ' she pleaded , laying her hand on the girl 's arm , ` wo n't you come upstairs , -- to please me , dear ? ' ` Mother , if you will go , I promise to lie here quietly till you return . ' ` But it is impossible to leave you alone in the house . Look , now , it is nine o'clock ; in half an hour , an hour at most , your father will be back . Why , you know how often he stays late when he gets talking . ' Emily was silent for a few minutes . Then she said -- ` Will you ask Mrs. Hopkins to send her servant ? '