a quarter after nine o'clock
Almost the next thing Lindsay knew she was watching dreamily spots of sunlight that danced on a pale pink wall . Then a bird began to sing at the edge of the window ; there was a delicate rustle of skirts , and she turned her head and saw a maid -- not Mary Mooney this time -- moving softly about , opening part way the outside shutters , drawing lip the shades a bit , letting the light and shadow from tossing trees outside and the air and the morning in with gentle slowness . She dressed with deliberation , and , lo ! it was a quarter after nine o'clock . So that the Governor waited for his breakfast . For ten minutes , while the paper lasted , waiting was unimportant ; and then , being impatient by nature , and not used to it , he suddenly was cross . `` Confound the girl ! ''