a
quarter to eight
His jaw was set hard , and the muscles of his face were firm . As he neared the Culpepper home he climbed from the buggy and hitched the horse to the block in front of his own house . He hurried into the Culpepper yard , past the lilac bushes heavy with blooms , and up the broad stone steps with the white pillars looming above him . It was a quarter to eight , and at that minute Bemis was saying to Adrian Brownwell , `` All right , if you do n't believe it , do n't take my word for it , but go home right now and see what you find . '' Molly Brownwell met Hendricks on the threshold with trembling steps . `` Bob , what is it ? '' she asked .