ten o'clock
This time it was her mistress , and she hurried to answer it . The countess was already in her dressing-gown and slippers , seated before her toilet-table , and holding a watch in her hand . `` Oh , Phoebe , '' she exclaimed , `` how could you have disobeyed me so ! It is after ten o'clock ! '' `` My lady , I will tell you the truth . You were so restless last night that you could not sleep , and I was so anxious for fear you were going to be ill , that indeed I could not . And so I lay awake listening at you till after four o'clock this morning , when I dropped off out of sheer exhaustion , and so I overslept myself until half-past nine ; and then my lady , I thought , as you had had such a bad night , and as it was too late for you to keep your appointment with yourself , and as you were sleeping so finely , I had better not wake you .