quarter to seven
However , it was not Colonel Dalhousie , but only the maid Flora , who entered with that air of eager hurry so characteristic of an habitually tardy race . It appeared that the infernal powers had conspired against her promptitude in the shape of a blockade , not to mention losting her way through the malicious misdirection of a white man selling little men that danced on a string ... . Having learned further that the postal uncle was poly las ' month but tollable now , Flora 's young mistress said : `` We must dress in a hurry now , Flora . It 's quarter to seven . '' And then she went on through to the sitting-room of the suite , to wake her mother , thinking : `` I ca n't go on this way the rest of my life , jumping out of my skin every time there 's a knock ... . What on earth have I been so afraid of ? ... '' Mrs. Heth slept on in her deep-bosomed chair , undisturbed by the click of switch or burst of light into her enveloping dusk .