nine o'clock
We sat silent . I knew he would speak to me in time ; but the gates of his heart were close locked . It seemed as if he dared not open them , lest the flood should burst forth and overwhelm us . At nine o'clock Mrs. Tod came in with supper . She had always something or other to say , especially since the late events had drawn the whole household of Rose Cottage so closely together ; now , she was brim-full of news . She had been all that evening packing up for poor dear Miss March ; though why she should call her `` poor , '' truly , she did n't know . Who would have thought Mr. March had such grand relations ?