a quarter to
nine
In fact , they none of them spoke after the first words of greeting to the girl , as I can very well testify ; for I sat eavesdropping with all my might , resolved not to lose a syllable , and I am sure I lost none . The young girl did not look round at that deep-drawn sigh of the man 's ; she did not lift her head even when he cleared his throat : but I was intent upon him , for I thought that these sounds preluded an overture -LRB- I am not sure of the figure -RRB- to my acquaintance , and in fact he actually asked , `` Do you know just when the concert begins ? '' I was overjoyed at his question , for I was poignantly interested in the little situation I had created , and I made haste to answer : `` Well , nominally at eight o'clock ; but the first half-hour is usually taken up in tuning the instruments . If you get into the pavilion at a quarter to nine you wo n't lose much . It is n't so bad when it really begins . '' The man permitted himself a smile of the pleasure we Americans all feel at having a thing understated in that way . His wife asked timidly , `` Do we have to engage our seats in the -- pavilion ? ''