nearly nine o'clock
After all , he had won a great victory . He had received nearly a thousand votes more than his opponent . He had wrested a seat for the cause in which he believed , and he was member for Brunford ! He slept until nearly nine o'clock , and when he came downstairs he found , to his delight , a heap of congratulatory messages lying upon the table . After all , it was delightful to be a victor , delightful to have won in the battle of life ! He noticed , too , that his mother had become like her old self again . She spoke in her natural voice , and made no reference whatever to what had taken place the night before .