nine o'clock in the morning
Before I could say anything she was gone . I abused myself in my vehement Continental way , and then I began to work . The picture was but little hurt , and before daylight was over it was almost repaired . But I had heard the clock strike seven , and my estimable uncle round the corner retires at that hour into the country , and will have no business again until nine o'clock in the morning . So , to prevent myself from thinking too much of the coffee and the tobacco and the loaf , I sat down to my piano and played . One would have thought that my sitting down to play was a signal , for I had scarcely begun when my landlady tapped at my door and brought a note . She looked shyly at the picture , and hoped it had not suffered much .