ten minutes to eleven
`` Ef so , this town 's been purtily robbed . '' `` That 's a true word . '' Then this happened -- The Trojan in broadcloth heard , as he passed , the words of the Trojan in corduroy ; inquired , shook his head , and walked on ; doubted ; turned back to hear more ; consulted his wife ; and decided to go and see . The consequence was that at ten minutes to eleven the stream of church-goers descending along the Parade was met by another stream rolling towards `` The Bower '' and every moment gathering volume . As there was no place of worship in this direction , a conference followed the confluence . The churchgoers turned , joined the larger stream , and the whole flood poured uphill . Outside `` The Bower '' they halted for a moment .