six o'clock
A polite answer was , therefore , immediately despatched . The week elapsed . Mrs. Tabitha had worked herself into a perfect fever of anxiety ; and her poor daughters , Minnie and Katty , were tired to death with their labour in carrying out their mother 's injunctions . The dinner-hour was fixed for six o'clock . At half-past five Mrs. Tabitha was still adding vermicelli to the soup , Minnie and Katty were still turning out jellies and blanc-manges , and Sappy the footman was still cleaning the plate . Mr. Tortoshell was sitting uneasily by the window endeavouring to read `` The Times , '' and young Tom was flying home from the City in a Hansom 's cab at the rate of twelve miles an hour . At a quarter past six , Mr. De Mousa and Lady Angora arrived .