a quarter to nine
`` What time is breakfast on Sundays ? '' `` The prayer-bell rings at a quarter to nine , miss . '' They exchanged no more conversation . At a quarter to nine a shrill , jangling bell rang out and Maggie hurried down the dark staircase . She did not know where the dining-room was , but by good chance she caught sight of Aunt Elizabeth 's little body moving hurriedly down the passage and hastened after her . She arrived only just in time . There , standing in a row before four chairs , their faces red and shining , their hands folded in front of them , were the domestics ; there , with a little high desk in front of her , on the other side of the long dining-room table was Aunt Anne ; here , near the door , were two chairs obviously intended for Aunt Elizabeth and Maggie .