Nine o’clock
Upstairs , he called his wife 's maid . `` At what time has your mistress ordered the carriage ? '' he asked . `` Nine o'clock , sir , -- if that will suit you . '' The maid spoke almost timidly , as if she recognized some gulf between husband and wife , and feared that their plans for the evening might conflict . `` That will do very well , '' Britton decided . `` Tell her I will await her at nine . ''