about ten o'clock
Little things naturally become of great importance in such a life , and Harriet kept up the supply ; she being the connecting link between Mrs. Caldwell and the outer world . She knew all that was happening in the place , and she claimed to know all that was going to happen ; and by degrees the mistress as well as the maid fell into the way of comparing events with the forebodings which had preceded them , and often established a satisfactory connection between the two . Mrs. Caldwell always made coffee in the kitchen for breakfast in the morning , and while she was so engaged , Harriet , busy making toast , would begin -- `` Did you ` ear a noise last night , m 'em ? '' `` No , Harriet -- at least -- was it about ten o'clock ? '' `` Yes , m 'em , just about -- a sort of scraping rattling noise , like a lot of people walking over gravel . '' `` I did hear something of the kind . I wonder what it was , '' Mrs. Caldwell would rejoin .