a quarter to ten
we said ; `` no audience will wait till half-past nine at night for a lecturer . '' Away we flew . The car , having such a light load , frisked and kicked , and made merry of a journey that to us was becoming very grave . Going round a sharp curve at break-neck speed , we felt inclined to suggest to the conductor that it would make no especial difference if we did not get to Dayton till a quarter to ten . The night was cold , and the hard ground thundered and cracked . The bridges , instead of roaring , as is their wont , had no time to give any more than a grunt as we struck them and passed on . At times it was so rough we were in doubt as to whether we were on the track or taking a short cut across the field to get to our destination a little sooner .