nine o'clock
Jerry tried to frown away the thought ; she did not want it to intrude upon her joy . That last evening she sat quietly on the porch with one hand in her mother 's and the other in Little-Dad 's . Not one of them seemed to want to talk ; Jerry was too excited and her mother knew that she could not keep a tremble from her voice . At nine o'clock Jerry declared that she 'd just _ have _ to go to bed so that the morning would come quicker . She kissed them both , kissed her mother again and again , then marched off with her pets at her heels . Far into the night her mother sat alone on the edge of the porch , staring at the stars through a mist of tears and praying -- first that the Heavenly Father would protect her little Jerry always and always , and then that He would give her strength to let the child go on the morrow . When the parting came everyone tried to be very busy and very merry , to cover the heartache that was under it all ; John Westley fussed with the covers and the cushions in the big car and had his chauffeur pack and repack the bags .