Twenty-five
minutes past two
But , at that saddest time of his life , the heart of Amelius warmed to any one who reminded him of his tranquil and happy days at Tadmor . Even this frozen old Socialist now appeared to him , for the first time , under the borrowed aspect of a welcome friend . Brother Bawkwell took the chair offered to him , and opened the proceedings , in solemn silence , by looking at his watch . `` Twenty-five minutes past two , '' he said to himself -- and put the watch back again . `` Are you pressed for time ? '' Amelius asked . `` Much may be done in ten minutes , '' Brother Bawkwell answered , in a Scotch accent which had survived the test of half a lifetime in America .