nine
o'clock
`` Dat 's good an ' kin ' ob you , daddy . You fin ' me waitin ' and lookin ' fer you , shuah . '' Kern grew calm after his mighty struggle , and , in his simple faith , believed that angels were around him , ready to take his child when he should lay her down . He began to sing again , and , a little before nine o'clock , repaired to his post of duty . As the days passed without any further communication from Houghton whatever , Ella 's first glow of hope began to pale . She tried to banish all other thoughts except that Mr. Houghton was very ill or as obdurate as ever . On the last day of August , however , she heard a rumor that the invalid was better , and that his son was soon to take him North .