a quarter to
eleven
`` Then we may as well start . '' `` I 'm afraid we 're a trifle early , my dear , '' said Mrs. Dunn , `` but we can stroll about a bit before we go in . '' The captain looked at the library clock . The time was a quarter to eleven . `` Early ? '' he exclaimed , involuntarily . `` Why , I thought Caroline said -- '' He stopped , suddenly , realizing that he had spoken aloud .