nine o'clock
Of course , my dear , of course -- at any time . '' Miss Raeburn , controlling herself absolutely , partly because of Aldous 's manner , partly because of the servants , took her guest upstairs straightway , put her on the sofa in a cheerful sitting-room with a bright fire , and then , shrewdly guessing that she herself could not possibly be a congenial companion to the girl at such a moment , whatever might have happened or might be going to happen , she looked at her watch , said that she must go down to dinner , and promptly left her to the charge of a kind elderly maid , who was to do and get for her whatever she would . Marcella made herself swallow some food and wine . Then she said that she wished to be alone and rest for an hour , and would come downstairs at nine o'clock . The maid , shocked by her pallor , was loth to leave her , but Marcella insisted . When she was left alone she drew herself up to the fire and tried hard to get warm , as she had tried to eat . When in this way a portion of physical ease and strength had come back to her , she took out the petition from its envelope and read it carefully .