Nearly nine o'clock
The maid was ready to say more , but Irene had learnt to discourage servants ' gossip . `` I think the _ Aphrodite _ might have fired cannons last night without disturbing me , '' she declared lightly . `` What time is it ? '' `` Nearly nine o'clock , miss . No one seemed to be stirring , so Mr. Gibson put off breakfast for half an hour . He said that everybody must be worn out after yesterday 's worries . '' Irene laughed .