a quarter after nine
`` And so you are back already , '' remarked Teresa as we invaded the kitchen . `` Back already ! '' said Louis . `` It 's more than a quarter after nine , but if it had n't been for the country cousin here , we 'd have been a whole lot later . '' My father had not had much time to pay attention to Paula since her arrival ; for on his return from his long trip he had found the head of the factory very sick . This had so increased his duties that he hardly had time in the morning to take a hurried cup of coffee , before going off to his work . In the evening , he always went to see Catalina for a few moments , and then he shut himself in his room where he worked far into the night .