nine o'clock
When I reached the Olivers ' I found , to my surprise , two strange men stretched out at large in the kitchen , one on the sofa and the other in the rocking-chair , both smoking strong tobacco and baby coughing constantly . Before I realised what had happened Mrs. Oliver called me into the scullery , and , after closing the door on us , she explained the position , in whispers broken by sobs . It was the rent . These were the bailiff 's men put into possession by the landlord , and unless she could find two pounds ten by nine o'clock to-morrow morning , she and her husband would be sold up and turned into the street . `` The home as I 've been scraping and pinching to keep together ! '' she cried . `` For the sake of two pound ten !