a quarter to four
Remembering to initial the correction , he remembered also , with a melancholy smile , that to-morrow the cheque would not be negotiable . Handing it , and the sonnet , to Mrs. Batch , he bade her cash it before the bank closed . `` And , '' he said , with a glance at his watch , `` you have no time to lose . It is a quarter to four . '' Only two hours and a quarter before the final races ! How quickly the sands were running out ! Mrs. Batch paused on the threshold , wanted to know if she could `` help with the packing . ''