nine o'clock before
demanded J. Elfreda Briggs , bursting into the room where Anne and Grace were busily making up for lost time . They had lingered at Vinton 's until after eight o'clock . Then the thought of to-morrow with its eternal round of classes had driven them home , reluctantly enough , to where their books awaited them . It was almost nine o'clock before they had actually settled themselves , and Elfreda 's sudden , tempestuous entrance caused Anne to lay down her Horace with an air of patient resignation . `` We might as well begin saying ` unprepared ' now , and grow accustomed to the sound of our own voices , '' she announced . `` I think so , too , '' agreed Grace . `` Well , Elfreda , why this thusness ?