a quarter to seven before
* * * * * That afternoon , while Rosamund was in the garden , Mr. Esme Darlington was paying a little visit to his old friend and crony , the Dean of Welsley . He had known the Dean -- well , almost ever since he could remember , and the Dean 's wife ever since she had married the Dean . His delay in returning to town , caused by Rosamund 's attractive invitation , enabled him to spend an hour at the Deanery , where he had tea in the great drawing-room on the first floor , which looked out on the Green Court . So pleasant were the Dean and his wife , so serenely flowed the conversation , that the hour lengthened out into two hours , and the Cathedral chimes announced that it was a quarter to seven before Mr. Darlington uncrumpled his length to go . Even then Mrs. Dean begged him to stay on a little longer . `` It 's such a treat to hear all the interesting gossip of London , '' she said , almost wistfully . `` When Dickie '' -- Dickie was the Dean , -- `` when Dickie was at St. Peter 's , Eaton Square , we knew everything that was going on , but here in Welsley -- well , I often feel rather rusty . ''