two
minutes to six
A stout elderly female panted towards the mouth with a letter in one hand and a paper in the other . She had full two minutes and a half to spare , but felt convinced she was too late . The red-coated official posted her letter , and pointed out the proper place for the newspaper . At two minutes to six anxious people began to run while yet in the street . Cool personages , seeing the clock , and feeling safe , affected an easy nonchalance , but did not loiter . One minute to six -- eager looks were on the faces of those who , from all sides , converged towards the great receiving-box . The active sprang up the wide stairs at a bound , heaved in their bundles , or packets , or single missives , and heaved sighs of relief after them ; the timid stumbled on the stairs and blundered up to the mouth ; while the hasty almost plunged into it bodily .