nine o’clock in the
morning
Again , the business did not pay as well as he thought . It increased a little , but he found he would have to watch his household expenses , which was humiliating . In the very beginning it was a delight to go home late at night , as he did , and find Carrie . He managed to run up and take dinner with her between six and seven , and to remain home until nine o'clock in the morning , but the novelty of this waned after a time , and he began to feel the drag of his duties . The first month had scarcely passed before Carrie said in a very natural way : `` I think I 'll go down this week and buy a dress . ' `` What kind ? '' said Hurstwood .