ten minutes to nine
It was an hour , however , before sleep came to her . She was on the early practising list , so she went downstairs next morning before her room-mate was stirring . Breakfast passed over as usual ; the post-bag came in ; Miss Todd sorted and distributed the contents , and the girls retired to read their letters . At ten minutes to nine something happened . Hilary , with wide open eyes and flushed cheeks , came running along the hall . `` Somebody 's gone and taken my essay out of my desk ! '' she declared excitedly .