five past six
Clara Curtenty rose swiftly from the easy-chair , and took her seat in front of the tea-tray . Almost at the same moment a neat black-and-white parlourmaid brought in teapot , copper kettle , and a silver-covered dish containing hot pikelets ; then departed . Clara was alone again ; not the same Clara now , but a personage demure , prim , precise , frightfully upright of back -- a sort of impregnable stronghold -- without doubt a Deputy-Mayoress . At five past six Josiah Curtenty entered the room , radiant from a hot bath , and happy in dry clothes -- a fine , if mature , figure of a man . His presence filled the whole room . ` Well , my chuck ! ' he said , and kissed her on the cheek .