nearly ten
o'clock
I must have fallen asleep towards rising-time , for I did not hear her get up ; but when she was nearly dressed I awoke and got up also , begging her to excuse my explanations yet a little , as I was very tired . Gabriel got down at the same time as I did . Richard Norton was always a lie-abed , so poor Jane was alone to puzzle out the secret of our haggard faces . It was not early ; it must have been nearly ten o'clock when Aunt Caroline arrived . The poor thing burst into tears when she saw me . `` Thank Mercy ! '' she cried ; `` oh , what a fright we 've had !