nine o'clock
I leave smokin ' to steam-funnels , an ' drinkin ' to the fish . '' `` But , '' persisted Kate , on whom another happy thought had descended , `` my sister and I keep very early hours , and a latch-key we could never -- '' `` Pooh ! that 's no difficulty , '' again interrupted this unconquerable man of the sea ; `` I hate late hours myself , when I 'm ashore , havin ' more than enough of 'em when afloat . I 'll go to bed regularly at nine o'clock , an ' wo n't want a latch-key . '' The idea of such a man going to bed at all was awesome enough , but the notion of his doing so in that small room , and in that delicately arranged little bed under that roof-tree , was so perplexing , that the sisters anxiously rummaged their minds for a new objection , but could find none until their visitor asked the rent of the room . Then Kate was assailed by another happy thought , and promptly named double the amount which she and Jessie had previously fixed as its value -- which amount she felt sure would prove prohibitory . Her dismay , then , may be imagined when the captain exclaimed with a sigh -- perhaps it were better to say a breeze -- of relief : -- `` Well , then , that 's all comfortably settled .