a quarter to nine
to a minute , mind . ' And Sponge , seeing there was no help for it , bid the ladies good night , and tumbled off to bed with little expectation of punctuality . -LSB- Illustration : MR. SPONGE 'S RAPID BREAKFAST -RSB- Nor was Sponge wrong in his conjecture , for it was a quarter to nine ere Spigot appeared with the massive silver urn , followed by the train-band bold , bearing the heavy implements of breakfast . Then , though the young ladies were punctual , smiling , and affable as usual , Mrs. Jawleyford was absent , and she had the keys ; so it was nearly nine before Mr. Sponge got his fork into his first mutton chop . Jawleyford was not exactly pleased ; he thought it did n't look well for a young man to prefer hunting to the society of his lovely and accomplished daughters . Hunting was all very well occasionally , but it did not do to make a business of it .