half past
eight
` Ask her , please , to come here . ' Sabina tripped off with a satisfied air , and five -- ten -- fifteen minutes elapsed and no Ellen . I took out my memorandum and quickly wrote down a few valuable plans on the coming campaign . The clock struck half past eight , and my sister opened the entry door and listened -- the kitchen door soon shut and somebody came up stairs slowly , with a waiter full of something . ` Is that you , Dinah ? ' ` Yes marm . ' ` Why did n't you come before ? '