twenty minutes
before nine
The coarse green carpet was threadbare , but still whole . There were half-a-dozen plain chairs with green and white rush seats in various parts of the room . On the narrow white marble mantel-shelf stood two china candlesticks , in one of which there was a piece of candle that had guttered when last burning . In the middle a cheap American clock of white metal ticked loudly , and the hands pointed to twenty minutes before nine . In one corner was the clothes-horse , with two or three overcoats hanging on it , and two hats , one of which was hanging half over on one side . It looked as though two cloaked skeletons in hats were embracing . In another corner by the door a black stick and an umbrella stood side by side .