a quarter to ten o'clock
Miss Rawson got out of bed , unlocked the door and bounded back again , and a figure of dignified displeasure sailed into the room . `` Are you ill , my dear ? '' Mrs. Ebley asked , in a stern voice . `` It is otherwise very strange that you should not be dressed at this hour -- it is a quarter to ten o'clock . '' `` No , I am not exactly ill , Aunt Caroline , '' Stella answered gently , `` but I was very tired , and as I was making up my mind what I should say in my letter to Eustace to break off my engagement -- I preferred not to come down until I had done so . '' The Aunt Caroline could not believe her ears . She was obliged to sit down .