nine o'clock
So , lighting her fire , shaking up a much-neglected easy-chair , bathing her eves , desiring her not to come down to tea , and engaging both that Gertrude should not behold her , and that papa would not be angry , provided that she tried to know what she really wished , and be wiser on the morrow , Ethel left her . The present concern was absolutely more to persuade her to give an answer of some sort , than what that answer should be . Ethel would not wish ; Dr. May had very little doubt ; and Gertrude , from whom there was no concealing the state of affairs , observed , ` If she cries so much the first time she has to know her own mind , it shows she ca n't do without some one to do it for her . ' The evening passed in expeditions of Ethel 's to look after her patient , and in desultory talk on all that was probable and improbable between Dr. May and the younger ones , until just as Ethel was coming down at nine o'clock with the report that she had persuaded Mary to go to bed , she was startled by the street door being opened as far as the chain would allow , and a voice calling , ` I say , is any one there to let me in ? ' ` Harry ! O , Harry ! I 'm coming ; ' and she had scarcely had time to shut the door previous to taking down the chain , before the three others were in the hall , the tumult of greetings breaking forth .