nine o’clock
But Seryozha knew all she wanted to say to him . He understood that she was unhappy and loved him . He understood even what the nurse had whispered . He had caught the words `` always at nine o'clock , '' and he knew that this was said of his father , and that his father and mother could not meet . That he understood , but one thing he could not understand -- why there should be a look of dread and shame in her face ? ... She was not in fault , but she was afraid of him and ashamed of something . He would have liked to put a question that would have set at rest this doubt , but he did not dare ; he saw that she was miserable , and he felt for her .