nine
o'clock
Mary began to sing it , so Lydia got her hymn-book and asked Thyrza to sing with them . The air was a sweet one , and Thyrza 's voice gave it touching beauty as she sang soft and low . Other hymns followed ; Mary Bower fell into her gentler mood and showed how pleasant she could be when nothing irritated her susceptibilities . The hours passed quickly to nine o'clock , then Mary said it was time for her to go . ` Do you want to stay a little longer , Mr. Boddy , ' she said , ` or will you go home with me ? ' ` I 'd rather walk home in good company than alone , Miss Mary , ' he replied . ` I call it walking , but it 's only a stump-stump . '