Nine o'clock
She rose and slowly looked about her , and as she did so the church clock struck nine . She could not at first believe it was so late . Convinced by looking at her watch -- there was just light enough for her to see it -- she became all at once more angry than the twins had ever known her , and for the first time in their lives they both experienced the sensation of having their ears boxed . Nine o'clock was the proper time for supper and they were half an hour from home , and it was all their fault . It did not take them half an hour . It took them twenty minutes , Mrs. Arlington striding ahead and the twins panting breathless behind her . Mr. Arlington had not yet returned .