twenty
minutes before seven
` You positively must , ' urged Pluck . ` You are very kind , ' said Mrs. Nickleby , hesitating ; ` but -- ' ` There 's not a but in the case , my dear Mrs. Nickleby , ' remonstrated Mr Pluck ; ` not such a word in the vocabulary . Your brother-in-law joins us , Lord Frederick joins us , Sir Mulberry joins us , Pyke joins us -- a refusal is out of the question . Sir Mulberry sends a carriage for you -- twenty minutes before seven to the moment -- you 'll not be so cruel as to disappoint the whole party , Mrs. Nickleby ? ' ` You are so very pressing , that I scarcely know what to say , ' replied the worthy lady . ` Say nothing ; not a word , not a word , my dearest madam , ' urged Mr. Pluck . ` Mrs. Nickleby , ' said that excellent gentleman , lowering his voice , ` there is the most trifling , the most excusable breach of confidence in what I am about to say ; and yet if my friend Pyke there overheard it -- such is that man 's delicate sense of honour , Mrs. Nickleby -- he 'd have me out before dinner-time . '