nine o'clock
`` To your work ! '' she cried . And Dorothy began to spin ; but she was trembling from head to foot , and every now and then she glanced at the princess on the hearth . The daughters , in their best gowns , sat with their mother around the hearth until nine o'clock ; then Dorothy was ordered to leave her wheel , the cottage was locked up , and everybody went to bed . Dorothy 's bed was a little bundle of straw up in the garret under the eaves . She was very tired when she lay down , but did not dare to sleep , for she remembered her promise to mend the eldest daughter 's apron . So she waited until the house was still ; then she arose and crept softly down-stairs .