nearly
seven o'clock
Oh , never mind your dress clothes . Ida will excuse you , I daresay . Besides , you have no time to dress . By Jove , it 's nearly seven o'clock ; we must be off if you are coming . '' The Colonel hesitated . He had intended to dine at home , and being a methodical-minded man did not like altering his plans . Also , he was , like most military men , very punctilious about his dress and personal appearance , and objected to going out to dinner in a shooting coat .