a quarter to two
She naturally spoke in a loud , clear voice , so that she had not got to raise it much even when she addressed Mrs Antrobus . Her wealth of discursive detail was absolutely unrivalled , and she was quite the best observer in Riseholme . `` The last I saw of Miss Bracely , '' she said exactly as if she had been told to describe something on oath in the witness-box , `` was a little after half-past one today . It must have been after half-past because when I got home it was close on a quarter to two , and I was n't a hundred yards from my house when I saw her . As soon as I saw her I said to my gardener boy , Henry Luton , who was pushing me -- he 's the son of old Mrs Luton who kept the fish shop , and when she died last year , I began to get my fish from Brinton , for I did n't fancy the look of the new person who took on the business , and Henry went to live with his aunt . That was his father 's sister , not his mother 's , for Mrs Luton never had a sister , and no brothers either . Well , I said to Henry , ` You can go a bit slower , Henry , as we 're late , we 're late , and a minute or two more does n't make any difference . '