a quarter to eight
he replied , leering horridly . `` I Love My Love with an A '' was returned to the club forthwith -LRB- whether he really did have a wife in India Miss Ailie never knew -RRB- and `` Judd on the Shorter Catechism '' took its place . But mark the result . The readings ended at a quarter to eight now , at twenty to eight , at half-past seven , and so Tommy could loiter on the way home without arousing Elspeth 's suspicion . One evening he saw Grizel cutting her way through the Haggerty-Taggerty group , and he offered to come to her aid if she would say `` Help me . '' But she refused . When , however , the Haggerty-Taggertys were gone she condescended to say , `` I shall never , never ask you to help me , but -- if you like -- you can show me how to hit without biting my tongue . ''