ten minutes to twelve
she seemed to say . Behind her , like Tartarin 's camel , loomed Leofwin . `` We 'll meet here at twelve , '' Nancy said , and with an effort she managed to include the cavalier and irrepressible artist , who , beaming and bowing , showed in every corner of him his thorough approval of the whole arrangement . By a coincidence , the two men arrived at ten minutes to twelve . They found Nancy in a rather pathetic state of excitement . She had been running up and down stairs and from one room to another and she met them with the elaborate calm of one about to give himself up to a capital operation . `` We have a nice day for it , anyway , '' she said bravely .