a quarter to eight
A few years of soldiering in these piping times of peace were as much as the boy need do . So his mind ran on into the happy future while he sat on the arm of one of the red-leather chairs and beamed at Stella , who had always been rather alarmed of Sir Shawn , and came out now as prettily as a flower in the warm sun . He looked at his watch . It was a quarter to eight . Dinner-time . A pity the youngsters had not more time to settle their pretty affair . He began to think of what gift he would give Eileen .