a quarter to ten
`` Oh , I -- Yes . That must be nice to try that . Yes . '' At a quarter to ten McKelvey discovered with profound regret that his wife had a headache . He said blithely , as Babbitt helped him with his coat , `` We must lunch together some time , and talk over the old days . '' When the others had labored out , at half-past ten , Babbitt turned to his wife , pleading , `` Charley said he had a corking time and we must lunch -- said they wanted to have us up to the house for dinner before long . '' She achieved , `` Oh , it 's just been one of those quiet evenings that are often so much more enjoyable than noisy parties where everybody talks at once and does n't really settle down to-nice quiet enjoyment . ''