nine o’clock
Hubert , quite excited by this day of recreation and of fete , was the only one who had anything to say . Hubertine , unusually quiet , scarcely replied to her husband , but kept her looks fixed upon the young girl , who ate heartily and with a good appetite , although she scarcely seemed to pay any attention to the food , or to know that she put her fork to her mouth , so absorbed was she by her fancies . And under this candid forehead , as under the crystal of the purest water , Hubertine read her thoughts clearly , and followed them as they formed themselves in her mind one by one . At nine o'clock they were greatly surprised by a ringing of the door-bell . It proved to be the Abbe Cornille , who , notwithstanding his great fatigue , had come to tell them that Monseigneur the Bishop had greatly admired the three old panels of marvellous embroidery . `` Yes , indeed ! And he spoke of them so enthusiastically to me that I was sure it would please you to know it . ''