a quarter past eight
`` I 've been here an hour . '' `` Nonsense , Sis , I 'm ahead of time , '' he protested . Elsie held up her watch . `` It 's a quarter past eight . Every seat is filled , and they 've stopped selling standing-room . I hope you have good seats . '' `` The best in the house to-night , the first row in the balcony dress-circle , opposite the President 's box .