a quarter to ten
At fust Peter said he would n't get a farthing out of ` im if his friend wrote letters till Dooms-day ; but by-and-by he thought better of it , and asked Bob to stay there while he went down to see Sam and Walter about it . When ' e came back he 'd got the fust week 's money for Bob Pretty ; but he said he left Walter Bell carrying on like a madman , and , as for Sam Jones , he was that upset ' e did n't believe he 'd last out the night . Mr. Higgs , jeweller , sat in the small parlour behind his shop , gazing hungrily at a supper-table which had been laid some time before . It was a quarter to ten by the small town clock on the mantelpiece , and the jeweller rubbing his hands over the fire tried in vain to remember what etiquette had to say about starting a meal before the arrival of an expected guest . `` He must be coming by the last train after all , sir , '' said the housekeeper entering the room and glancing at the clock . `` I suppose these London gentlemen keep such late hours they do n't understand us country folk wanting to get to bed in decent time . You must be wanting your supper , sir . ''