five minutes to twelve
`` Then nothing till after twelve , '' said William . Though Reuben and his wife ruled on social points , religious questions were mostly disposed of by the old man , whose firmness on this head quite counterbalanced a certain weakness in his handling of domestic matters . The hopes of the younger members of the household were therefore relegated to a distance of one hour and three-quarters -- a result that took visible shape in them by a remote and listless look about the eyes -- the singing of songs being permitted in the interim . At five minutes to twelve the soft tuning was again heard in the back quarters ; and when at length the clock had whizzed forth the last stroke , Dick appeared ready primed , and the instruments were boldly handled ; old William very readily taking the bass-viol from its accustomed nail , and touching the strings as irreligiously as could be desired . The country-dance called the ` Triumph , or Follow my Lover , ' was the figure with which they opened . The tranter took for his partner Mrs. Penny , and Mrs. Dewy was chosen by Mr. Penny , who made so much of his limited height by a judicious carriage of the head , straightening of the back , and important flashes of his spectacle-glasses , that he seemed almost as tall as the tranter . Mr. Shiner , age about thirty-five , farmer and church-warden , a character principally composed of a crimson stare , vigorous breath , and a watch-chain , with a mouth hanging on a dark smile but never smiling , had come quite willingly to the party , and showed a wondrous obliviousness of all his antics on the previous night .