about a quarter to eleven
And the pathos of it all caused Zara a sharp pain . She did not dare to look ahead , as far as her little brother was concerned . Indeed , to look ahead , in any case , meant nothing very happy . She was just going up the great staircase at about a quarter to eleven , with the letter in her hand , when she met Tristram coming from his room , with his shooting boots on , ready to start . He stopped and said coldly -- they had not spoken a word yet that day -- `` You had better be quick putting your things on . My uncle always starts punctually . '' Then his eye caught the foreign writing on the letter , and he turned brusquely away , although , as he reasoned with himself a moment afterwards , it was ridiculous of him to be so moved , because she would naturally have a number of foreign correspondents .