five
minutes past six
She had promised her grandmother to go to the post-office before returning . An important business letter was expected . Annie swept the soft tail of her muslin into a little crushed ball , and ran , her slender legs showing like those of a young bird beneath its fluff of plumage . She realized the necessity of speed , of great speed , for the post-office was a quarter of a mile away , and the Eustace family supped at five minutes past six , with terrible and relentless regularity . Why it should have been five minutes past instead of upon the stroke of the hour , Annie had never known , but so it was . It was as great an offence to be a minute too early as a minute too late at the Eustace house , and many a maid had been discharged for that offence , her plea that the omelet was cooked and would fall if the meal be delayed , being disregarded . Poor Annie felt that she must hasten .