nine in the morning
If she were to tell Lord Earle , after his deliberate and emphatic words , she could expect no mercy ; yet , she said to herself , other girls have done even worse , and punishment had not overtaken them so swiftly . At last she slept , distressed and worn out with thought . For the first time in her life , when the bright sun shone into her room , Beatrice turned her face to the wall and dreaded the sight of day . The post-bag would leave the hall at nine in the morning -- Hugh would have the letter at noon . Until then she was safe . Noon came and went , but the length of the summer 's day brought nothing save fresh misery . At every unusual stir , every loud peal of the bell , every quick footstep , she turned pale , and her heart seemed to die within her .