nine o'clock
Mrs. Carey seldom ate more than bread and butter , with a little stewed fruit to follow , but the Vicar had a slice of cold meat . Immediately after supper Mrs. Carey rang the bell for prayers , and then Philip went to bed . He rebelled against being undressed by Mary Ann and after a while succeeded in establishing his right to dress and undress himself . At nine o'clock Mary Ann brought in the eggs and the plate . Mrs. Carey wrote the date on each egg and put the number down in a book . She then took the plate-basket on her arm and went upstairs . Mr. Carey continued to read one of his old books , but as the clock struck ten he got up , put out the lamps , and followed his wife to bed .