nine
o'clock
Pauline was hanging checked glass towels on the line , Nancy caught a glimpse of her big bare arms , over the brick wall that shielded the kitchen yard . It was a lovely home , it was a most successful establishment ; surely , surely , things would improve , it would never be necessary to go away from Holly Court . Chapter Twenty-eight Bert was very late , that night . The children were all asleep , and Nancy had dined , and was dreaming over her black coffee when , at nine o'clock , he came in . He was not hungry -- just hot and tired -- he wanted something cool . He had lunched late , in town , with both the Pearsalls , had not left the table until four o'clock . And he had news for her .