nine o'clock
Our two girls , the gardener , and Joe Slocombe the groom , were to be present , as also were all the other employees about . Nearly every one in the district -- masters and men -- attended the races . We were going , Frank Hawden volunteering to stay and mind the house . We started at nine o'clock . Grannie and uncle Boss sat in the front seat of the buggy , and aunt Helen and I occupied the back . Uncle always drove at a good round gallop . His idea was to have good horses , not donkeys , and not to spare them , as there were plenty more to be had any day .