a quarter to eleven
The king , on the other hand , while only too glad to receive what aid he might from the loyal families of the old religion , yet saw that much caution was necessary lest he should alienate the most earnest of his protestant friends by giving ground for the suspicion that he was inclined to purchase their co-operation by a return to the creed of his Scottish grand-mother , Mary Stuart , and his English great-great-grand-mother , Margaret Tudor . On the part of the clergy there had been for some time a considerable tendency , chiefly from the influence of Laud , to cultivate the same spirit which actuated the larger portion of the catholic priesthood ; and although this had never led to retrograde movement in regard to their politics , the fact that both were accounted by a third party , and that far the most dangerous to either of the other two , as in spirit and object one and the same , naturally tended to produce a more indulgent regard of each other than had hitherto prevailed . And hence , in part , it was that it had become possible for episcopalian Dr. Bayly to be an inmate of Raglan Castle , and for good , protestant Matthew Herbert to seek refuge for his ward with good catholic lady Margaret . Eager to return to the duties of his parish , through his illness so long neglected , Mr. Herbert declined her ladyship 's invitation to dinner , which , she assured him , consulting a watch that she wore in a ring on her little finger , must be all but ready , seeing it was now a quarter to eleven , and took his leave , accompanied by Dorothy 's servant to bring back the horse -- if indeed they should be fortunate enough to escape the requisition of both horses by one party or the other . At present , however , the king 's affairs continued rather on the ascendant , and the name of the marquis in that country was as yet a tower of strength . Dorothy 's horse was included in the hospitality shown his mistress , and taken to the stables -- under the mid-day shadow of the Library Tower . As soon as the parson was gone , lady Margaret touched a small silver bell which hung in a stand on the table beside her .