nine o'clock
The lawyer bent his forehead very low at that moment . The sun was high over the head of Hindscarth , but a fresh breeze was blowing from the north , and the walk to the Ghyll was bracing . Mr. Bonnithorne talked little on the way , but Hugh Ritson 's spirits rose sensibly , and he chatted cheerfully on indifferent subjects . It was still some minutes short of nine o'clock when they reached the house . The servants were bustling about in clean aprons and caps . `` Have the gentlemen arrived ? '' asked Hugh .