a quarter to ten
On the evening of the second day , about an hour after dinner was over , Mr Hinks called at the house ; as usual , he went into the study . Before long came a second visitor , Mr Quarmby , who joined Yule and Hinks . The three had all sat together for some time , when Marian , who happened to be coming down stairs , saw her father at the study door . ` Ask your mother to let us have some supper at a quarter to ten , ' he said urbanely . ` And come in , wo n't you ? We are only gossiping . ' It had not often happened that Marian was invited to join parties of this kind .