fifteen minutes to seven
Science was a success as usual ; and Mrs. Drabdump rose from her knees content , like a Parsee priestess who had duly paid her morning devotions to her deity . Then she started violently , and nearly lost her balance . Her eye had caught the hands of the clock on the mantel . They pointed to fifteen minutes to seven . Mrs. Drabdump 's devotion to the kitchen fire invariably terminated at fifteen minutes past six . What was the matter with the clock ? Mrs. Drabdump had an immediate vision of Snoppet , the neighbouring horologist , keeping the clock in hand for weeks and then returning it only superficially repaired and secretly injured more vitally `` for the good of the trade . ''