about ten o'clock
Christine looked at the watch on her wrist and saw that it was past eleven . `` Oh , I should think so , Mr. Saxby . The closing of all the shutters is usually a sign that she is up and about . '' It is , in fact , a practice in all Karoo houses to close every window and shutter at about ten o'clock each morning , not throwing them open again until sunset . This keeps the interiors extraordinarily cool , and , as the walls are usually whitewashed , there is plenty of light . `` I expect I shall find her in the drawing-room , '' Saxby remarked , and passed on . Christine saw him leave again about half an hour later .