twenty-one o'clock
It was the first time that the particular ceremony had taken place , and he was anxious that it should be as successful as its predecessors . There were a few differences between this and the others , and it was necessary that the _ ceremoniarii _ should be fully instructed . So , with his model before him -- a miniature replica of the interior of the Abbey , with tiny dummy figures on blocks that could be shifted this way and that , he was engaged in adding in a minute ecclesiastical hand rubrical notes to his copy of the Order of Proceedings . When the porter therefore rang up a little after twenty-one o'clock , that a lady wished to see him , he answered rather brusquely down the tube that it was impossible . But the bell rang again , and to his impatient question , the reply came up that it was Mrs. Brand below , and that she did not ask for more than ten minutes ' conversation . This was quite another matter . Oliver Brand was an important personage , and his wife therefore had significance , and Mr. Francis apologised , gave directions that she was to come to his ante-room , and rose , sighing , from his dummy Abbey and officials .