quarter to twelve
We could see ourselves at supper there , pecking away at cold meat , and passing each other chunks of bread ; we could hear the cheery clatter of our knives , the laughing voices , filling all the space , and overflowing through the opening out into the night . And we hurried on to realise the vision . We struck the tow-path at length , and that made us happy ; because prior to this we had not been sure whether we were walking towards the river or away from it , and when you are tired and want to go to bed uncertainties like that worry you . We passed Skiplake as the clock was striking the quarter to twelve ; and then George said , thoughtfully : `` You do n't happen to remember which of the islands it was , do you ? '' `` No , '' I replied , beginning to grow thoughtful too , `` I do n't . How many are there ? '' `` Only four , '' answered George .