a quarter before ten
`` She spoke nothing whatever . I thought it more wisely to departing go . '' The laugh that was raised at this lucid report restored good humor in the company . A vehicle called for Mr. and Mrs. Kean at a quarter before ten to take them down into the village , and it was not long before every light was out in Queen 's Cottage but one in a small single room in an upper story . Here , in front of the mirror over the dressing table , sat a black-eyed girl in a red silk dressing gown . `` Judith , '' she said fiercely to her image in the glass , `` ca n't you remember that you are too poor to insult people any longer ? '' Then she rolled up Mrs. Kean 's note into a little ball and flung it across the room with such force that it hit the other wall and bounded back again to her feet , and she ground it under her heel .