nine o’clock
I thought you were with her . '' `` She disappeared while I was talking to that good Miss Penwell ! You must be pleased now , Alick , you see she is really going to see about going to Scotland . '' `` I should be better pleased if she had not left that poor old man alone till nine o'clock . '' `` She says that when he has his man Saunders to read to him -- '' `` Do n't tell me what she says ; I have enough of that at first hand . '' He broke off with a start . The terrace was prolonged into a walk beyond the screen of evergreens that shut in the main lawn , and , becoming a shrubbery path , led to a smooth glade , on whose turf preparations had been made for a second field of croquet , in case there should have been too many players for the principal arena .