a quarter to ten o'clock
There are ways of keeping the door of the mind also , ready as it is to fall to , ajar for the cat . `` Noo , Annie , pit on yer bonnet , an ' gang to the schuil wi ' the lave -LRB- rest -RRB- ; an ' be a good girrl . '' This was the Bruce 's parting address to Annie , before he left the kitchen for the shop , after breakfast and worship had been duly observed ; and having just risen from his knees , his voice , as he stooped over the child , retained all the sanctity of its last occupation . It was a quarter to ten o'clock , and the school was some five minutes distant . With a flutter of fearful hope , Annie obeyed . She ran upstairs , made herself as tidy , as she could , smoothed her hair , put on her bonnet , and had been waiting a long time at the door when her companions joined her . It was very exciting to look forward to something that might not be disagreeable .