ten o'clock
Miss Slowcum 's face looked decidedly jealous , for she would have dearly liked to have been herself in Mrs. Dredge 's interesting and sympathizing position . Mrs. Mortlock raised her almost sightless eyes to the fat little woman 's face , and remarked in a slightly acid voice -- `` I 'm obliged to you , Mrs. Dredge , for thinking that in the moment of trial the sight of me and a sympathizing squeeze from my hand would have done my continual reader any harm . It 's very good-natured of you to go with the orphan girls , Mrs. Dredge , and I 'm glad to think you 've just had the support of your chop to sustain you under the fatigue . Please remember , Mrs. Dredge , that we lock up the house in this home at ten o'clock , and no latch-keys allowed . Is n't that so , Mrs. Flint ? '' `` Under ordinary circumstances , quite so , ma'am , '' answered Mrs. Flint , who would not have minded snubbing Miss Slowcum , but was anxious to propitiate both the rich widows ; `` under ordinary circumstances that is so , but in a dire moment like the present I think the ten minutes ' grace might be allowed to Mrs. Dredge 's kind heart . '' `` Here 's the four-wheeler ! ''