twenty minutes before nine
Dear Frederic , Yours very affectionately , CLARA AMEDROZ . It was on a Sunday morning that Clara 's letter reached Aylmer Park , and Frederic Aylmer found it on his plate as he took his place at the breakfast-table . Domestic habits at Aylmer Park had grown with the growth of years till they had become adamantine , and domestic habits required prayers every morning at a quarter before nine o'clock . At twenty minutes before nine Lady Aylmer would always be in the dining-room to make the tea and open the post-bag , and as she was always there alone , she knew more about other people 's letters than other people ever knew about hers . When these operations were over she rang the bell , and the servants of the family , who by that time had already formed themselves into line in the hall , would march in , and settle themselves on benches prepared for them near the side-board , -- which benches were afterwards carried away by the retiring procession . Lady Aylmer herself always read prayers , as Sir Anthony never appeared till the middle of breakfast . Belinda would usually come down in a scurry as she heard her mother 's bell , in such a way as to put the army in the hall to some confusion ; but Frederic Aylmer , when he was at home , rarely entered the room till after the service was over .