a quarter past six
The dinner-hour was fixed for six o'clock . At half-past five Mrs. Tabitha was still adding vermicelli to the soup , Minnie and Katty were still turning out jellies and blanc-manges , and Sappy the footman was still cleaning the plate . Mr. Tortoshell was sitting uneasily by the window endeavouring to read `` The Times , '' and young Tom was flying home from the City in a Hansom 's cab at the rate of twelve miles an hour . At a quarter past six , Mr. De Mousa and Lady Angora arrived . Neither Mrs. Tortoshell nor her daughters were ready to receive them . Sappy was in his shirt-sleeves , and the maids were not fit to be seen ; so Mr. Tortoshell had to open the door , receive his company , and usher them into his drawing-room himself . Mr. De Mousa looked at his watch and said he was afraid they were early , which rather confused Mr. Tortoshell ; but the cousins soon got to talking of the beautiful weather , and the beautiful moonlight nights , and Lady Angora amused herself by playing with a young kitten on the hearth-rug .