ten minutes to twelve o'clock
John was long in coming and she fell into a dreamy state of maternal comfort as she rocked , and forgot the hour and the place and the dinner that would soon be waiting at Aunt Susan 's , till the baby went to sleep in her arms . When Jack was at last soundly asleep she placed him on the bed , covering him with a piece of white mosquito netting to keep the flies from disturbing him , and , rearranging dress and ribbons , went into the sitting room to see what time it was . An exclamation of dismay escaped her . It was but ten minutes to twelve o'clock ! She had dreamed much longer than she had been aware . In a fever of hurry she ran back to the bedroom and laid out John 's best suit . That had pleasant associations also .