a
quarter before nine
So quiet was he , that his aunt could hardly understand him , and any one who had seen the boisterous , lively boy at Ashton Grange , would hardly have known him as the same one who was sitting so quietly before the drawing-room fire in the lamplight . He was sitting there in dreamy fashion with a very sad , heavy heart , when his aunt asked him what was his bedtime . A fortnight ago , if this question had been put to Arthur , he would not have given the same answer that he did now . Then he had considered it one of the greatest hardships of his life , that a quarter before nine was the time when he was expected to disappear . But now he said , `` Oh , I do n't much mind , aunt ; I think I should like to go now ! '' for the weary , lonely feeling was making his heart so sick , that he wanted to be all alone for a while . `` Well , good night , darling , '' said his aunt , and she put her arms very tenderly round his neck ; for she knew that his poor little heart must be aching , and that his thoughts must be seeing things that were very far away .