nine o'clock
And a very audible sigh of relief floated up the back stairway . The Bridge Across the Years John was expected on the five o'clock stage . Mrs. John had been there three days now , and John 's father and mother were almost packed up -- so Mrs. John said . The auction would be to-morrow at nine o'clock , and with John there to see that things `` hustled '' -- which last was really unnecessary to mention , for John 's very presence meant `` hustle '' -- with John there , then , the whole thing ought to be over by one o'clock , and they off in season to ` catch the afternoon express . And what a time it had been -- those three days ! Mrs. John , resting in the big chair on the front porch , thought of those days with complacency -- that they were over . Grandpa and Grandma Burton , hovering over old treasures in the attic , thought of them with terrified dismay -- that they had ever begun .