ten minutes after
ten o'clock
Mrs. Nancy rarely felt lonely when playing backgammon . The click of the dice sounded cheerful and sociable ; the checkers , with their shining eyes , seemed to take a real interest in the game ; and when she scored the result to `` Willie '' or to `` Mother , '' the old familiar every-day relation seemed restored between them . To-night Willie was having all the luck , and that was sure to put his mother in the best of spirits . She played on and on , much later than her custom was , till at last the luck turned , and looking at her flat , gold-faced watch , she found , with a shock , that it was ten minutes after ten o'clock . `` My sakes ! '' she cried . `` I ought to be ashamed of myself !