a quarter before seven in the morning
` Bout seven o'clock . '' `` I 'll go to-morrow morning and help you , '' said the teacher . `` We must be on time -- that 's a necessary law of the school . '' At a quarter before seven in the morning , Sidney Trove presented himself at the Homers ' . He had come to help with the milking , but found there were only five cows to milk . `` Too bad your father lost so many cows -- all in a day , '' said he . `` It 's a great pity .