nine
o'clock
-- not pausing for an answer -- `` all the boys are waiting for him outside . Please tell him to hurry , Polly , '' for Joel 's friends always felt if they could only get Polly on their side , they were sure of success , and he shifted his feet in impatience . `` I do n't know in the least where Joel is , '' said Polly , pausing in her run through the hall . She had promised Alexia to be over at her house at nine o'clock , and there it was , the big clock in the corner stated plainly , five minutes of that hour . `` Oh , dear me ! I wish I could help you , '' and she wrinkled up her brows in distress . Frick sat down on one of the big , carved chairs and fairly whined : `` I 've chased and chased all about here , and no one knows where Joel is .