a quarter to eight
But in order to rouse her thus , Chance broke the inoffensive limb of unfortunate Mr. Troy Wilkins as he was stepping from his small bronchial motor-car to an icy cement block , on seven o'clock of Friday evening . When Una arrived at the office on Saturday morning she received a telephone message from Mr. Wilkins , directing her to take charge of the office , of Bessie Kraker , and the office-boy , and the negotiations with the Comfy Coast Building and Development Company regarding the planning of three rows of semi-detached villas . For three weeks the office was as different from the treadmill that it familiarly had been , as the Home Club and Lawrence 's controversial room were different from the Grays ' flat . She was glad to work late , to arrive not at eight-thirty , but at a quarter to eight , to gallop down to a cafeteria for coffee and a sandwich at noon , to be patient with callers , and to try to develop some knowledge of spelling in that child of nature , Bessie Kraker . She walked about the office quickly , glancing proudly at its neatness . Daily , with an operator 's headgear , borrowed from the telephone company , over her head , she spent half an hour talking with Mr. Wilkins , taking his dictation , receiving his cautions and suggestions , reassuring him that in his absence the Subway ran and Tammany still ruled . After an agitated conference with the vice-president of the Comfy Coast Company , during which she was eloquent as an automobile advertisement regarding Mr. Wilkins 's former masterpieces with their `` every modern improvement , parquet floors , beam ceilings , plate-rack , hardwood trim throughout , natty and novel decorations , '' Una reached the zenith of salesman 's virtues -- she `` closed the deal . ''