about nine o'clock in
the morning
Before she retired , Letty , who had shown herself a very capable attendant , said to her : `` Wot 's your name , miss ? I allus likes to know the names o ' ladies I waits on . '' `` My name , '' said the lady , `` is Mrs Null . '' The Autumn sun was shining very pleasantly when , about nine o'clock in the morning , Mrs Null came out on the porch , and , standing at the top of the steps , looked about her . She had on her hat with the red flowers , and she wore a short jacket , into the pockets of which her hands were thrust with an air which indicated satisfaction with the circumstances surrounding her . The old dog , lying on the grass at the bottom of the steps , looked up at her and flopped his tail upon the ground . Mrs Null called to him in a cheerful tone and the dog arose , and , hesitatingly , put his forefeet on the bottom step ; then , when she held out her hand and spoke to him again , he determined that , come what might , he would go up those forbidden steps , and let her pat his head .