five
minutes to nine
`` Certainly not , '' said the skipper . `` Why , I should n't have seen you if I had n't done it . '' Miss Pilbeam looked at the clock and pondered . It wanted but five minutes to nine . Five minutes in which to make up a mind that was in a state of strong unrest . `` I suppose it is time for me to go , '' said the skipper , watching her . Miss Pilbeam rose .