nine o'clock
As uncle Nathan had prophesied , Mary was busy as a humming-bird washing up the breakfast dishes , and putting every thing to rights in the kitchen . Aunt Hannah did not seem to observe it , but strained her milk , and went out again . When she came back , uncle Nathan was with her , looking rather grave and perplexed . It was now approaching nine o'clock , and all the `` chores , '' as the good couple called the household work , `` were done up . '' `` Go up stairs and get your things , '' said aunt Hannah to Mary , `` it 's school-time . '' Mary obeyed , and aunt Hannah proceeded to change her checked apron for one of black silk , and to invest her head in a straw bonnet that had been tolerably fashionable ten years before , and since that time it had been often bleached , but never changed in form . She took Mary by the hand , when she came down , with her plain mantilla and cottage bonnet on , surveyed her keenly from head to foot , and led her into the street .