twenty
minutes to nine
Why did n't somebody call me ? Oh , this is a shame ! '' And he flung the watch down , and sprang out of bed , and had a cold bath , and washed himself , and dressed himself , and shaved himself in cold water because there was not time to wait for the hot , and then rushed and had another look at the watch . Whether the shaking it had received in being thrown down on the bed had started it , or how it was , George could not say , but certain it was that from a quarter-past eight it had begun to go , and now pointed to twenty minutes to nine . George snatched it up , and rushed downstairs . In the sitting-room , all was dark and silent : there was no fire , no breakfast . George said it was a wicked shame of Mrs. G. , and he made up his mind to tell her what he thought of her when he came home in the evening .