a quarter after seven
In her , Howat 's appraisements went on , virginity had been perpetuated in a captious obsession . They stood awkwardly silent until James Polder exclaimed , `` Good heavens , this is n't a wax works ! Why do n't we sit down ? '' The older woman glanced with a consuming anxiety at Isabella , and nodded violently toward an exit , `` It 's a quarter after seven , '' she said in a swift aside . Isabella , correctly disposed on a chair of muffled and mysterious line , resolutely ignored the appeal . `` I did n't suppose you 'd be in the city , '' she addressed Mariana ; `` I read in the paper that you had gone to Watch Hill with Mrs. Ledyard B. Starr . '' `` You can see that I 'm back , '' Mariana smiled .