ten o’clock
Mary was happy to help , and Ethel was dressed and cheered by the time Dr. May came in , for a hurried visit and report of his doings ; Flora followed on her way from her room . Then all went to tea , leaving Margaret to have a visit from the little ones under charge of nurse . Two hours ' stay with her , that precious time when she knew that sad as the talk often was , it was truly a comfort to him . It ended when ten o'clock struck , and he went down -- Margaret hearing the bell , the sounds of the assembling servants , the shutting of the door , the stillness of prayer-time , the opening again , the feet moving off in different directions , then brothers and sisters coming in to kiss her and bid her good-night , nurse and Flora arranging her for the night , Flora coming to sleep in her little bed in the corner of the room , and , lastly , her father 's tender good-night , and melancholy look at her , and all was quiet , except the low voices and movements as Richard attended him in his own room . Margaret could think : `` Dear , dear Ethel , how noble and high she is ! But I am afraid ! It is what people call a difficult , dangerous age , and the grander she is , the greater danger of not managing her rightly .