a quarter to six
And thereupon the message started over again , but this time breathed in Mr. Strangman 's powerful whisper . He certainly seemed to be able to manipulate it with less noise , only he soon wearied of the effort , and future wires were deputed to Joan . So , in addition to her other tasks , she had had the peculiarly irritating one of trying to induce attention into post office telephone girls . Then , too , Mr. Strangman had not felt in the mood to dictate letters , with the result that at a quarter to six seven of them had to be altered and retyped . Joan was still sitting at her machine in a corner of the hot , noisy office , beating out : `` Dear Sir , In answer to yours , etc. , '' when the clock struck six . Her back ached , her eyes throbbed , she was conscious of a feeling of intense hatred against mild , inoffensive Mr. Strangman . That gentleman , having discovered the lateness of the hour by chance , kept her another quarter of an hour apologizing before he signed the letters .