ten o'clock
`` I am afraid not , '' said Rosa naively . `` Oh , how I wish I had known a week ago . '' `` I am very thankful you did not , '' said Staines dryly . At ten o'clock Mrs. Staines was nearly dressed ; at a quarter past ten she demanded ten minutes ; at half-past ten she sought a reprieve ; at a quarter to eleven , being assured that the street was full of carriages , which had put down at Mrs. Lucas 's , she consented to emerge ; and in a minute they were at the house . They were shown first into a cloak-room , and then into a tea-room , and then mounted the stairs . One servant took their names , and bawled them to another four yards off , he to another about as near , and so on ; and they edged themselves into the room , not yet too crowded to move in . They had not taken many steps , on the chance of finding their hostess , when a slight buzz arose , and seemed to follow them .