a
quarter past eight
Presently Mildred came in , rolling down her sleeves . Philip gave her a casual glance , but did not move ; the occasion was curious , and he felt a little nervous . He feared that Mildred might imagine he was going to make a nuisance of himself , and he did not quite know how without brutality to reassure her . `` By the way , I 've got a lecture at nine , so I should want breakfast at a quarter past eight . Can you manage that ? '' `` Oh , yes . Why , when I was in Parliament Street I used to catch the eight-twelve from Herne Hill every morning . ''