nine
o'clock
`` What a wonderful lady , to be so punctual ! '' he said . `` You evidently do n't know the house . We shall be lucky if we get dinner at nine o'clock . '' `` Why did you come down , then , '' I asked , `` since you are acquainted with the ways ? '' `` On the off chance , and because a bad habit of youth sticks to me , and I ca n't help being on time . '' `` I am finding it absurd to have acquired habits in youth ; they are all being upset , '' I said .