nine o'clock
Then Grannie finished , on hearth and griddle , the baking of her cakes . After that , some of the neighbours came and carried off to their own fires the beef , mutton , chickens , and ducks intended for the day 's dinner . It was woman 's work that was to the fore , and all idle men were hustled out of the way . Towards nine o'clock breakfast was swallowed standing . Then everybody began to think of dressing . In this matter the men had to be finished off before the women could begin . Already they were heard bellowing for help from unseen regions upstairs .