About nine o'clock
She might have said more , but I interrupted her at this point . `` Certainly , I will come and fetch him , '' -- I lapsed unconsciously into her system of denomination -- `` this morning , if you are sure he would like to come out with me . '' `` I 'm quite sure , sir , '' she said . `` About nine o'clock ? '' I asked . `` That would do nicely , sir , '' she answered . As I walked back to the farm I was thinking of the life of those two occupants of the Stotts ' cottage .