eight o'clock
What a rum start it all is -- the whole turn-out ! '' For the merpussy is her incorrigible self , and will be to the last . * * * * * When Sally reached home , very late , she was not displeased , though she was a little surprised , to find that Mrs. Lobjoit was keeping dinner back , and that her mother and Fenwick had not reappeared , having been away since they parted . Not displeased , because it gave her time to settle down -- the expression she made use of , to think with ; not with any admission , however , that she either felt or looked unusually _ exaltée _ -- but surprised , because it was eight o'clock , and she felt that even Mrs. Lobjoit 's good-nature might have limits . But while she was settling down , in a happy , excited dream she half wondered that she did not wake from , back came the truants ; and she heard from her room above Mrs. Lobjoit 's report that Miss Sally was gone upstairs to get ready , with the faintest hint of reproach in the tone . Then her mother 's `` Do n't stop to read letters , Gerry -- that 'll do after , '' and Fenwick 's `` All right ! '' not followed by immediate obedience .