Eleven o'clock
`` I ask thee for the daily strength , To none that ask denied , A mind to blend with outward life , While keeping at thy side ; Content to fill a little space If thou be glorified . '' Of course Dr. Van Anden did not know that Ester Ried stood in the doorway below , and was at that precise moment in need of just such help as this ; but then what mattered that , so long as the Master did ? Just then another sense belonging to Ester did its duty , and gave notice that the pies in the oven were burning ; and she ran to their rescue , humming meantime : `` Content to fill a little space If thou be glorified . '' Eleven o'clock found her busily paring potatoes -- hurrying a little , for in spite of swift , busy fingers their work was getting a little the best of Maggie and her , and one pair of very helpful hands was missing . Alfred and Julia appeared from somewhere in the outer regions , and Ester was too busy to see that they both carried rather woe-begone faces . `` Has n't mother got back yet ? '' queried Alfred .