nearly nine o'clock
Christine was not now a very early riser . If Margot had a restless , bad night , both of them often fell asleep at the dawning , and it had occasionally been as late as eight o'clock when their breakfast was over . Roberta Rath 's visit happened to fall on one of these belated mornings . It was nearly nine o'clock , but Margot had just had her breakfast , and was washed and dressed , and sitting in a big chair by the fireside of her room . Christine was standing by a table in the living room . There was a large pan of hot water before her , and she was going to wash the breakfast dishes . Then there was a soft , quick knock at the door , and she called a little peremptorily , `` Come in . ''