nearly nine o'clock
She wrote the initials of her , name , M.B. , in the same small hand , on the opposite corner . Mary Erskine did not attempt _ her _ lesson until the evening . She finished her work about the house a little after eight o'clock , and then she undressed the children and put them to bed . By this time it was nearly nine o'clock . The day had been warm and pleasant , but the nights at this season were cool , and Mary Erskine put two or three dry sticks upon the fire , before she commenced her work , partly for the warmth , and partly for the cheerfulness of the blaze . She lighted her lamp , and sat down at her work-table , with Mary Bell 's copy , and her pen , ink , and paper , before her . The copy had been pinned up in sight all the day , and she had very often examined it , when passing it , in going to and fro at her work .