nine o'clock
As they were leaving the stage , Jessica , whose eyes had been anxiously searching the audience from the beginning of the exercises , gave a little cry and hurrying down the steps , rushed straight into the arms of a brown-eyed girl in a traveling gown who stood waiting at the foot of the steps . `` Oh , you dear Mabel , '' cried Jessica joyously . `` Where did you come from ! '' `` Mother and I did n't get in until almost nine o'clock , so we came here at once , '' replied Mabel Allison . `` Mother is over there . Come and see her . '' `` I have been so disappointed , '' declared Jessica .