nearly ten o'clock
Knowing her , he feared she intended to be there to see the arrest . Her uncle 's laugh nettled the girl a little , and with a slight elevation of her head , she said , -- `` I do n't know . '' Further talk now became impossible , for , at that moment the troopers arrived . Horrocks discovered that it was nearly ten o'clock . The moment for the start had come , and , with one accord , everybody rose from the table . In the bustle and handshaking of departure Jacky slipped away . When , she returned the doctor and Mrs. Abbot were in the hall alone with `` Lord '' Bill .