nine o'clock
Dear me ! to-day will be only too short . '' `` It is half-past six now , '' said Matilda . `` Between now and nine o'clock to-night there are -- let me see ; half-past twelve will be six hours , and half-past six will be twelve hours ; six , seven , eight , nine , -- nine will be two hours and a half more ; that will be fourteen and a half hours . '' `` Fourteen , '' said Maria , `` That half we shall be expecting them . '' `` Well , we 've got to go in and put the house in order , first thing , '' said Matilda . `` Let 's make haste . ''