ten o'clock
She succeeded so well in her cooking operations , with which she would not allow the servant to intermeddle , that in a very short time a couple of dainty dishes and some coffee smoked upon the board ; and Janetta bidding her father come to the table , placed herself near him , and smilingly dispensed the savory concoction . She would not enter upon any account of her evening 's work until she felt sure that the wants of her father 's inner man were satisfied ; but when supper was over , and his evening pipe -- the one luxury in the day he allowed himself -- alight , she drew up a hassock beside his chair and prepared for what she called `` a good long chat . '' Opportunities for such a chat with her father were rather rare in that household , and Janetta meant to make the most of this one . Nora had good-naturedly volunteered to stay away from the dining-room , so as to give Janetta the chance that she wished for ; and as it was now barely ten o'clock , Janetta knew that she might perhaps have an hour of her father 's companionship -- if , at least , he were not sent for before eleven o'clock . At eleven he would probably go to Mrs. Maitland 's to fetch his wife home . `` Well , Janet , and what have you to tell me ? '' he said kindly , as he stretched out his slippered feet to the blaze , and took down his pipe from the mantel-piece .