nine o'clock
It was a few minutes past nine . She was startled by the rapid chuff of the winding-engine at the pit , and the sharp whirr of the brakes on the rope as it descended . Again she felt the painful sweep of her blood , and she put her hand to her side , saying aloud , `` Good gracious ! -- it 's only the nine o'clock deputy going down , '' rebuking herself . She sat still , listening . Half an hour of this , and she was wearied out . `` What am I working myself up like this for ? ''