ten o'clock in the morning
Let us hurry up , and go and join them . '' Mrs Freer wrote a grateful letter to Mr Bertrand , thanking him for his hospitality to her son , and arranging to drive over for Rex on the following Saturday afternoon , so that Hilary 's anxiety was at an end , and she could enjoy the strange boy 's society with an easy mind . After Norah had broken the ice , there was no further feeling of shyness . When Rex hobbled downstairs at ten o'clock in the morning , he ensconced himself on the old-fashioned sofa in the sewing-room , and remained there until he adjourned into the drawing-room for the evening . The boys came in and out as they pleased , Miss Briggs coddled him and brought him cups of beef-tea , but it was upon the girls that he chiefly depended for amusement . In the morning they were busy with their household duties ; but , as regular lessons had not begun , afternoon was a free time , and while Norah drew , Lettice carved , and Hilary occupied herself manufacturing fineries for the London visit , a brisk clatter of tongues was kept up , in which the invalid took his full part . The sound of five-finger exercises would come from the schoolroom overhead , but so soon as four o'clock struck , the Mouse would steal in , in her little white pinafore , and creep on to the corner of the sofa .