five minutes
after nine
He paid his board , and that ended it . '' `` No , it did n't , Alma . You know what he used to say -- about its being like home , and all that ; and I must say that after his attentions to you , and all the things you told me he said , I expected something very dif -- '' A sharp peal of the door-bell thrilled through the house , and as if the pull of the bell-wire had twitched her to her feet , Mrs. Leighton sprang up and grappled with her daughter in their common terror . They both glared at the clock and made sure that it was five minutes after nine . Then they abandoned themselves some moments to the unrestricted play of their apprehensions . `` Why , Alma , '' whispered the mother , `` who in the world can it be at this time of night ? You do n't suppose he -- '' `` Well , I 'm not going to the door , anyhow , mother , I do n't care who it is ; and , of course , he would n't be such a goose as to come at this hour . ''