nine o'clock
The month before , she had been one of the few girls who had nowhere to go ; she had been forced to pretend that she liked staying in , did it in fact by preference . -- Now her spirits rose . Marina , Godmother 's younger daughter , from whom Laura inherited her school-books , was to call for her . By a little after nine o'clock on Saturday morning , Laura had finished her weekly mending , tidied her bedroom , and was ready dressed even to her gloves . It was a cool , crisp day ; and her heart beat high with expectation . From the dining-hall , it was not possible to hear the ringing of the front-door bell ; but each time either of the maids entered with a summons , Laura half rose from her chair , sure that her turn had come at last . But it was half-past nine , then ten , then half-past ; it struck eleven , the best of the day was passing , and still Marina did not come .