nearly nine o'clock
The servant returned with the card on his waiter . The ladies had retired . Then Lynde took himself off to bed disconsolately . It was nearly nine o'clock when he awoke the following morning . The storm had not lifted ; the colorless clouds were still letting down a fine , vapory rain that blurred everything . As soon as he had breakfasted , Lynde went to Mrs. Denham 's rooms . She answered his knock in person and invited him by a silent gesture to enter the parlor .