nine
o'clock
All evening the two girls remained in the living room listening intently for the ring of the bell that might mean an answer to Kathleen 's urgent message . At ten minutes to nine Kathleen said wearily . `` It 's too late to hear to-night . The telegraph office closes at nine o'clock . The answer will come in the morning . Even as she spoke , the door bell rang loudly . Pale and trembling with suspense , she herself answered the door .