nine
o’clock
`` Thank you , sir , '' was all Norman could say ; and as Mr. Wilmot went out by the front door , he slowly went up again , and , lingering on the landing-place , was met by Mr. Ward , who told him to his relief -- for the mere thinking of it renewed the faint sensation -- that he had better not go to his father 's room . There was nothing to be done but to return to Ethel and Harry , and tell them all ; with some humiliation at being helpless , where Flora was doing so much , and to leave their father to be watched by a stranger . If he had been wanted , Norman might have made the effort , but being told that he would be worse than useless , there was nothing for him but to give way . They sat together in Ethel 's room till somewhere between eight and nine o'clock , when good old nurse , having put her younger ones to bed , came in search of them . `` Dear , dear ! poor darlings , '' said she , as she found them sitting in the dark ; she felt their cold hands , and made them all come into the nursery , where Mary was already , and , fondling them , one by one , as they passively obeyed her , she set them down on their little old stools round the fire , took away the high fender , and gave them each a cup of tea . Harry and Mary ate enough to satisfy her , from a weary craving feeling , and for want of employment ; Norman sat with his elbow on his knee , and a very aching head resting on his hand , glad of drink , but unable to eat ; Ethel could be persuaded to do neither , till she found old nurse would let her have no peace .