nearly ten o'clock
-- I 'm afraid he 's bad enough -- sometimes -- to be anything ! '' Her meditations were here interrupted by a touch on her arm , and turning , she beheld her round-eyed handmaiden Prue . `` The old man you sez is a gentleman is down , Mis ' Tranter ! '' Miss Tranter at once stepped indoors and confronted Helmsley , who , amazed to find it nearly ten o'clock , now proffered humble excuses to his hostess for his late rising . She waived these aside with a good-humoured nod and smile . `` That 's all right ! '' she said .