half past nine
When they reached the house she established him in the drawing-room and went off to find her father . She was a true woman , by which is meant now and always that she preferred to allow a man to digest his dinner before she tried to bring him to a rational opinion . But in this case her hands were tied . The Cords dined at eight -- or sometimes a little later , and Ben 's boat left for New York at half past nine , so that it would be utterly impossible to postpone the discussion of her future until after dinner . It had to be done at once . Crystal ran up and knocked at his bedroom door . Loud splashings from the adjoining bathroom were all the answer she got .