nine o'clock
First , she got out of the store some mackerel and bound them , just as they came out of the barrel , brine and all , to the soles of the feet of both the mother and children . This simple remedy acted like a charm , for in about three hours the fever began to break . Agnes put on fresh mackerel as before , removing the first ones , which , startling as it may seem , were perfectly putrid , though reeking with the strong salt brine when she applied them . By nine o'clock that night the noble young woman had the inexpressible delight of seeing her poor patients so far changed for the better as to be completely out of danger . On the next morning , true to his promise , the dead-wagon man came around . He was one of those in-bred wicked spirits which take delight in hating everything and everybody good and beautiful ; just as the Greek peasant hated Aristides , and voted for his banishment , because he was surnamed the `` good . '' This fellow already hated Agnes , and his ugly face was contorted with a hideous grin , as he thrust himself in at the store door and exclaimed : `` Hallo !