nine o'clock
Here Mr. Rose and Sam have been away all day , an ' I 've been makin ' currant-jell ' out in the kitchen . An ' there 's the bell on the counter , that customers always ring when there ai n't anybody round . I 've been listenin ' for _ that _ all day . It 's been so hot , an ' everybody hayin ' , that I do n't suppose a soul but her has been near the store since nine o'clock this mornin ' , and there she 's stood an ' knocked . I never heard anything like it in my life . See here , Pussy , have n't you been asleep ? '' Fidelia shook her head in a sulky and down-cast manner , but there was a suspiciously flushed and creasy look about her , and they agreed that it was more than probable that a nap on the store steps had softened and shortened her vigil .