two minutes to seven
And with this I bustled away , leaving her literally dancing with curiosity . At the age of twenty-six one can not claim to have attained to the position of a person of experience . Nevertheless , the knowledge of human nature accumulated in that brief period sufficed to make me feel confident that , at some time during the evening , I should receive a visit from Miss Oman . And circumstances justified my confidence ; for the clock yet stood at two minutes to seven when a premonitory tap at the surgery door heralded her arrival . `` I happened to be passing , '' she explained , and I forbore to smile at the coincidence , `` so I thought I might as well drop in and hear what you wanted to ask me about . '' She seated herself in the patients ' chair and laying a bundle of newspapers on the table , glared at me expectantly . `` Thank you , Miss Oman , '' said I. `` It is very good of you to look in on me .