a quarter after eleven
Then came another outburst from Dellarme 's men , which she interpreted as the response to another rush by the Grays ; and this yelping of the demon was not that of the hound after the hare , as in the valley , but of the hare with his back to the wall . When it was over there was no cheer . What did this mean ? Oh , that slow minute-hand , resting so calmly between hitches of destiny , now pointing to a quarter after eleven ! For half a century , it seemed to her , Marta had endured watching its snail pace . Now inaction was no longer bearable . Without warning to her mother she bolted out of the kitchen .