nine o’clock
Bel-den 's mind turned unconsciously to the old days when Caddy and he dreamed out their future in the nursery . It had all come out just as she had planned , except this . Poor little Caddy -- a fighting chance ! The next morning seemed to fly by them : it was nine o'clock , ten , eleven . At this hour a feverish activity suddenly spread through the house . They met and passed each other , hurrying , troubled , secretive ; the servants stumbled and quarrelled in their purposeless haste . To Belden , quieting when he could , sternly optimistic everywhere , at heart heavy and uncertain , it seemed that the one anchor of their hopes was this calm , clear-eyed woman in her uniform of authority !