the hour of eleven
`` Have a piece of bacon , '' said she . Frederick held up his plate , and Tess shoved a generous portion into it . She gave him a tempting brown fish , cut a slice of bread , placing it upon the side of his tin plate , and commenced to eat rapidly from her own . Neither boy nor girl mentioned sleeping until the hands of the small nickel clock on the shelf in the corner pointed out the hour of eleven . Then Tessibel opened the subject without hesitation or embarrassment . `` It air time fer ye to turn in , '' said she , banking the embers in the stove for the night . `` I shall sit up , '' replied Frederick stiffly .