nine o'clock
Mr. Jackson was reading letters . The rest , including Gladys Maud , whose finely chiselled features were gradually disappearing behind a mask of bread-and-milk , had settled down to serious work . The usual catch-as-catch-can contest between Marjory and Phyllis for the jam -LRB- referee and time-keeper , Mrs. Jackson -RRB- had resulted , after both combatants had been cautioned by the referee , in a victory for Marjory , who had duly secured the stakes . The hour being nine-fifteen , and the official time for breakfast nine o'clock , Mike 's place was still empty . `` I 've had a letter from MacPherson , '' said Mr. Jackson . MacPherson was the vigorous and persevering gentleman , referred to in a previous chapter , who kept a fatherly eye on the Buenos Ayres sheep . `` He seems very satisfied with Mike 's friend Wyatt .