about nine
o'clock
`` Women are such out-and-out fools . '' Then he took his candle , and carrying his letter with him , went into his bedroom . The next morning was the morning of Christmas Eve . At about nine o'clock a boy came into his room who was accustomed to call for orders for the day . `` Jem , '' he said to the boy , `` there 's half a crown lying there on the looking-glass . '' Jem looked and acknowledged the presence of the half-crown . `` Is it a head or a tail , Jem ? ''