five minutes to eight
I fulfilled your engagement in grand , tout ensemble style , but there is a sad bon jour look about the thirty-eight cents left in my vest pocket that would make a hired man weep . All day long the heavens wept , and the heavy , sombre clouds went drifting about over head , and the north wind howled in maniacal derision , and the hack drivers danced on the pavements in wild , fierce glee , for they knew too well what the stormy day betokened . The hack was to call for me at eight . At five minutes to eight I went upstairs and dressed in my usual bijou and operatic style , and rolled away to the opera . Emma sang finely . I applauded at the wrong times , and praised her rendering of the chromatic scale when she was performing on `` c '' flat andante pianissimo , but otherwise the occasion passed off without anything to mar the joyousness of the hour . Everybody was there .