nine o'clock
`` Father had them in his old sea-chest . '' The antique fashion , a quaint touch of foreign grace and even imagination about the cut were very pleasing ; if ever Mr. William Blackett had faintly resembled an old beau , it was upon that day . He now appeared to feel as if everything had been explained between us , as if everything were quite understood ; and we drove for some distance without finding it necessary to speak again about anything . At last , when it must have been a little past nine o'clock , he stopped the horse beside a small farmhouse , and nodded when I asked if I should get down from the wagon . `` You can steer about northeast right across the pasture , '' he said , looking from under the eaves of his hat with an expectant smile . `` I always leave the team here . '' I helped to unfasten the harness , and William led the horse away to the barn .