a quarter to
ten
`` At what time do they begin ? '' said Mary . `` Not till eleven , '' said Mrs. Fenwick . `` There , it wants a quarter to ten now , and they mean to go on with that music for an hour and a quarter . '' `` We shall be keeping them company by-and-by , '' said the Vicar . `` The poor old church bells wo n't be heard through it , '' said Mrs. Fenwick . Mrs. Fenwick was in the habit of going to the village school for half an hour before the service on Sunday mornings , and on this morning she started from the house according to her custom at a little after ten .