Half past one
Begin on them , begin ! Confound it ! What 's the time ? '' And the young woman 's voice : `` Half past one , Mr. Cuthcott ! '' And a noise from Mr. Cuthcott 's throat that sounded like an adjuration to the Deity not to pass over something . Then the young woman dipped and began gathering those leaves of paper , and over her comely back Nedda had a clear view of Mr. Cuthcott hunching one brown shoulder as though warding something off , and of one of his thin hands ploughing up and throwing back his brown hair on one side , and heard the sound of his furiously scratching pen . And her heart pattered ; it was so clear that he was ` giving them one ' and had no time for her .