nine o'clock
`` You can be and will be , '' was the gentle answer , as the mother wound an arm about and led him within . There in silence and semi-darkness they sat awhile . The doctor had gone into his little library to look over memoranda and accounts . It was nine o'clock when Geordie 's quick , soldierly step was heard on the walk without . He came bounding up and in , alert , virile , and vigorous . `` You saw Mr. McCrea , Geordie ? '' `` Yes , mother .