a quarter after seven
`` Huh ! it ai n't only a quarter past seven , '' put in his superior brother . He seemed about to say more , but a glance from the grandfather silenced him . So _ that _ was as late as he had stayed -- a quarter after seven ? He was ready now to rage at any taunt , and began to eat in haughty silence . He was still eating when his grandfather and Allan left the table , and then he began to feel a little grateful that they had not noticed or asked annoying questions , or tried to be funny or anything . Over a final dish of plum preserves and an imposing segment of marble cake he relented so far as to tell Clytie something of his adventures -- especially since she had said that the big hall-clock was very likely slow -- that it must surely be a lot later than a quarter past seven .