nine
o'clock
Where was he now ? And what was to become of his little niece ? During the search for her uncle , Anne awaited the stewardess 's return with growing impatience and hunger . In that keen salt air it was no light matter to have gone dinnerless to bed and to be waiting at nine o'clock for breakfast . At last she heard approaching steps . She flung her door open , expecting to see her uncle or at least the stewardess . Instead , she stood face to face with a strange boy , a jolly , freckle-faced youngster of about thirteen .