five
minutes to three
It was mere idle curiosity . '' For the greater part of twenty-four hours she kept this mystery locked within her heart , till at last she could contain it no longer . The resolution she came to was both desperate and abruptly taken . At five minutes to three she was resolved to die rather than mention that sprig of heather to a soul ; at five minutes past she was on her way to Sir Justin Wallingford 's house . `` It may be going behind mamma 's back , '' she said to herself ; `` but she went behind mine when SHE consulted Sir Justin . '' It was probably in consequence of her urgent voice and agitated manner that she came to be shown straight into Sir Justin 's library , without warning on either side , and thus surprised her counsellor in the act of softly singing a well-known hymn to the accompaniment of a small harmonium . He seemed for a moment to be a trifle embarrassed , and the glance he threw at his footman appeared to indicate an early vacancy in his establishment ; but as soon as he had recovered his customary solemnity his explanation reflected nothing but credit upon his character .