five minutes to twelve
It was on a Thursday morning , and , consequently , I was my mother 's pupil . For whereas my tutor , a certain Mr. Glengelly , from our nearest town of Elmworth , used to come over on Mondays , Wednesdays , and Fridays for the carrying forward of my education ; my studies were , on the other days of the week , which I consequently liked much better , conducted under the gentle superintendence of my mother . On this particular morning I was working with energy at a rule-of-three sum , being engaged in a sort of exciting race with the clock , of which the result was still doubtful . When , however , the little click , which meant , as I well knew , five minutes to twelve , sounded , I had attained my quotient in plain figures ; a few moments more , and the process of _ fours into , twelves into , twenties into _ , had been accomplished ; and just as the clock struck twelve I was able to hand up my slate triumphantly with my task completed . `` A drawn game , mamma ! '' I exclaimed , `` between me and the clock ; '' and then with eager eyes I followed hers , as she rapidly ran over the figures which had cost me so much trouble , and from time to time relieved my mind by a quiet commentary : `` Quite right so far ; -- No mistakes yet ; -- You have worked it out well . '' Frisk , the intelligent , the affectionate , the well-beloved companion of my sports , and the recipient of many of my confidences , woke up from his nap , stretched himself , came and placed his fore-paws upon my knees , and , looking up in my face , spoke as plainly as if endowed with the capacity of expressing himself in human language , to this effect : -- `` I 'm very glad you have finished your lessons ; and glad , too , that I was able to sleep on a mat in the window , where the warm sunshine has made me extremely comfortable .