half after ten
Do look at it -- do please look at it ! '' Amelius good-naturedly approached to look at it . At the same moment the sitting-room door was opened , without any preliminary ceremony of knocking -- and Rufus walked into the room . `` It 's half after ten , '' he said , `` and the breakfast is spoiling as fast as it can . '' Before Amelius could make his excuses for having completely forgotten his engagement , Rufus discovered Sally . No woman , young or old , high in rank or low in rank , ever found the New Englander unprepared with his own characteristic acknowledgment of the debt of courtesy which he owed to the sex . With his customary vast strides , he marched up to Sally and insisted on shaking hands with her .