nine o'clock
`` Now , then , Mr. Hardwicke , the floor of your lower house is quite dry , and I think it will be safe to move back again . Will you have your breakfast first , or will you wait until you get back home again before eating anything ? '' `` Oh , let 's wait , by all means , and eat breakfast in the dear old root-fortress , '' said Tom , and as Sam made no objection , it was so arranged . By nine o'clock the moss carpet was laid in the root-fortress and the little party was back in its old quarters again . The vacant corner which had been Joe 's , reminded them sadly of his disappearance . Poor fellow ! they had learned to love him almost as a brother , and they could not think of him now without tears .