nine o’clock
One evening he had to attend a meeting which was followed by a banquet . It was his first night away from home . He had persuaded his wife to invite a friend to spend the evening with her , and to go to bed early , for he did not expect to be home until late . The friend came and stayed until nine o'clock . The young wife sat in the drawing-room , waiting , for she was determined not to go to bed until her husband had returned . She felt too restless to go to sleep . She sat alone in the drawing-room .