Ten
minutes to seven
`` Oh ! that will not matter , '' answered Mildred , carelessly , for they were leaning over the taffrail together ; `` they will keep them for you at ` Miles ' Hotel . ' But , my dear boy , do you know what time it is ? Ten minutes to seven ; that dreadful bell with be going in a minute , and the soup will be spoiled . Run and get ready , do . '' When dinner was over -- Miss Terry would have none -- they went and sat upon the moonlit deck . The little vessel was under all her canvas , for the breeze was light , and skimmed over the water like a gull with its wings spread .