nine o'clock
And deep under the earth , hurrying toward the subterranean stream , were other streams , small and great , but all deep , hurrying to and from that great mother-stream underneath , just as the small and great overground streams hurry to and from their mother Mississippi . It was almost more than the little convent girl could take in : at least such was the expression of her eyes ; for they opened as all eyes have to open at pilot stories . And he knew as much of astronomy as he did of hydrology , could call the stars by name , and define the shapes of the constellations ; and she , who had studied astronomy at the convent , was charmed to find that what she had learned was all true . It was in the pilot-house , one night , that she forgot herself for the first time in her life , and stayed up until after nine o'clock . Although she appeared almost intoxicated at the wild pleasure , she was immediately overwhelmed at the wickedness of it , and observed much more rigidity of conduct thereafter . The engineer , the boiler-men , the firemen , the stokers , they all knew when the little convent girl was up in the pilot-house : the speaking-tube became so mild and gentle . With all the delays of river and boat , however , there is an end to the journey from Cincinnati to New Orleans .