a quarter to nine
Once , too , he jingled the sovereign in his pocket ; she heard him , and wondered why David did not ask him where he had got the money . But no remark was made , and the meal came safely to an end . Kathleen took up the first book she could find and pretended to read . `` I shall feign sleepiness at a quarter to nine , '' she said to herself , `` and go upstairs . I shall be awfully polite and sweet to dear Alice . She never comes to bed before ten , so I shall be quite safe getting out of the house . I can drop from the window , but I should prefer going by the back door ; and I do n't think Maria will betray me . ''