a quarter to
four
But it was not so easy to get the French maid on . A bazaar was felicity to her , and she had her little lady in her power ; she stood and gazed , admired , and criticised , at every stall that afforded ornamental wearing apparel or work patterns ; and Kate , making little excursions , and coming back again to her side , could not get her on three yards in a quarter of an hour , and was too shy and afraid of being lost , to wander away and transact her own business . At last they did come to a counter with ornamental stationery ; and after looking at four or five books , Kate bought a purple embossed one , not at all what she had had in her mind 's eye , just because she was in too great a fright to look further ; and then step by step , very nearly crying at last , so as to alarm Josephine lest she should really cry , she got her out at last . It was a quarter to four , and Josephine was in vain sure that Miladi Barbe would never be at the place in time ; Kate 's heart was sick with fright at the thought of the shame of detection . She begged to get out at the Marble Arch , and not risk driving along Park Lane ; but Josephine was triumphant in her certainty that there was time ; and on they went , Kate fancying every bay nose that passed the window would turn out to have the brougham , the man-servant , and Aunt Barbara behind it . At length they were set down at what the Frenchwoman thought a safe distance , and paying the cabman , set out along the side path , Josephine admonishing her lady that it was best not to walk so swiftly , or to look guilty , or they would be `` _ trahies _ . '' But just then Kate really saw the carriage drawn up where there was an opening in the railings , and the servant holding open the door for them .