Fifteen minutes past seven
And she did not like the connection ; it troubled her , and offended the extreme nicety of her social code . There was a constrained silence , which was broken by the lobby clock striking the first quarter after seven . This harsh announcement on the part of the inhuman clock seemed to render the situation intolerable . Fifteen minutes past seven , and Louis not come , and not a word of comment thereon ! Mrs. Maldon had to admit privately that she was in a high state of agitation . Then Rachel , bending delicately to sweep the hearth with the brass-handled brush proper to it , remarked with an obvious affectation of nonchalance -- `` Your other guest 's late too . '' If Mrs. Maldon had not been able to speak his name , neither could Rachel !