nine
o'clock
This attendant gave his arm respectfully to the old gentleman , who leaned upon it heavily , but with as little appearance of dependence as possible . The servant , assuming a similar unconsciousness of the weight resting upon his arm , assisted the old gentleman carefully up the steps . `` I 'm all right now , Sandy , '' whispered the gentleman as soon as his feet were planted firmly on the piazza . `` You may come back for me at nine o'clock . '' Having taken his hand from his servant 's arm , he advanced to meet a lady who stood in the door awaiting him , a tall , elderly woman , gaunt and angular of frame , with a mottled face , and high cheekbones partially covered by bands of hair entirely too black and abundant for a person of her age , if one might judge from the lines of her mouth , which are rarely deceptive in such matters . `` Perhaps you 'd better not send your man away , Mr. Delamere , '' observed the lady , in a high shrill voice , which grated upon the old gentleman 's ears . He was slightly hard of hearing , but , like most deaf people , resented being screamed at .