about a quarter to ten
So , as the cars began to come in , early , the girls dropped into the waiting-room . And instead of hurrying off home , they sat around the fire and had a cup of tea . Outside was the darkness and lawlessness of wartime . John Thomas came on the car after Annie , at about a quarter to ten . He poked his head easily into the girls ' waiting-room . ` Prayer-meeting ? ' he asked .