ten minutes to ten
The Vicar raised his eyebrows and his shoulders . It was the gesture of a man helpless before the unspeakable . He took refuge in his pathos . `` I am very tired , Gwenda ; and it 's ten minutes to ten . '' * * * * * It may have been because the Vicar was tired that his mind wandered somewhat that night during family prayers . Foremost among the many things that the Vicar 's mind refused to consider was the question of the status , of the very existence , of family prayers in his household . But for Essy , though the Vicar did not know it , it was doubtful whether family prayers would have survived what he called his daughters ' godlessness .