nine
o’clock
La Couteau had also very complaisantly promised to call each month at one or another of her journeys in order to receive the thirty francs , thereby saving the mother the trouble of sending the money by post , and also enabling her to obtain fresh news of her child . Thus , each time a payment became due , if La Couteau 's journey happened to be delayed a single day , Madame Menoux grew terribly frightened , and hastened off to Celeste to make inquiries of her . And , moreover , she was glad to have an opportunity of conversing with this girl , who came from the very part where her little Pierre was being reared . `` You will excuse , me , wo n't you , mademoiselle , for calling so early , '' said she , `` but you told me that your lady never required you before nine o'clock . And I 've come , you know , because I 've had no news from over yonder , and it occurred to me that you perhaps might have received a letter . '' Blonde , short and thin , Madame Menoux , who was the daughter of a poor clerk , had a slender pale face , and a pleasant , but somewhat sad , expression . From her own slightness of build probably sprang her passionate admiration for her big , handsome husband , who could have crushed her between his fingers .