fifteen minutes after nine
`` I 've got such a lot to talk about -- and I do n't come very often . '' He thought that his tone was perfectly natural ; but all the same she turned white . He rode on to a little tree and tied his horse -- not that it was necessary to tie him , but to avoid questions . Miss Conroy went in and dismissed the children , although it was only fifteen minutes after nine . They gathered up their lunch-pails and straggled out reluctantly , round-eyed , and curious . Rowdy waited until the last one had gone before he went in . Miss Conroy sat in her chair on the platform , and she was still white ; otherwise she seemed to have herself well in hand .