twenty
minutes to four
`` But I want you to see the whole ship , you know , much more thoroughly than Mrs. Marne has time for -- and to take a little spin -- '' He was interrupted by an exaggerated cry from the lady last mentioned , who , happening to glance down at her watch , had stopped short at the cabin-hatch in great dismay . Now she turned back to Varney crying : `` Oh ! oh ! Mr. Varney , it 's _ twenty minutes to four _ ! I must fly to my Culture _ this instant _ ! '' At that , for Varney , the little party lost the last traces of its false good-fellowship and stood out for what it was . Mrs. Marne 's hurried departure slightly dislocated his carefully-laid plans ; it was evident that her brother had no intention of going with her .