a quarter to twelve
`` It 's nine o'clock , '' said Staniford . `` It ca n't be ; it was half past when I came up , '' answered Lydia . `` One hand 's at twelve and the other at nine , '' he said , conclusively . `` Oh , then it 's a quarter to twelve . '' She caught away her hand from his arm , and fled to the gangway . `` I did n't dream it was so late . '' The pleasure which her confession brought to his face faded at sight of Hicks , who was turning the last pages of a novel by the cabin lamp , as he followed Lydia in .