ten o'clock
She stole into her mother 's room , and stationing herself by the bed , spoke in the softest of voices ; `` Mama , your new dress -- '' The opening showed a tact creditable to her years . After all , it is one thing to be wakened by the crashing of a boarding-house breakfast gong , and another to be roused by the music of a harp . Annabel opened her eyes with a sense of something agreeable on the way , and Diantha promptly acted on her advantage . `` Mama , you are to try on your new dress at ten o'clock , and it 's nine already . '' `` Nine ! '' moaned Annabel . `` You should have called me before . ''