nine o'clock
Suddenly the sun came up behind the distant hills , a glowing ball of fire , sending forth his ruddy beams till they struck clean through the window , turning the fern fronds to ruby jewels , and making of the frost veil without a web of diamonds . `` That , '' breathed Trix softly , `` is what happened to us yesterday . '' And she knelt down quite suddenly by the window . * * * * * The breakfast hour at the Manor House was , ordinarily speaking , most punctually at nine o'clock , but owing , doubtless , to some slight hitch in the lower regions , the gong that morning did not sound till a quarter past the hour . This delay gave Miss Tibbutt time to put in an appearance not more than two minutes late , and saved any necessary explanation regarding her early walk to Byestry . As it was really on Pia 's account that she had gone to Mass , she wished to avoid mentioning that she had been . Of course Pia could not possibly have guessed the real motive , but Miss Tibbutt had a feeling , which reason told her to be quite foolish , that in some odd way she might guess .