A fragment of quite modest article (4)
I believe the answer is:
item
'article' is the definition.
(both can mean an object or thing)
'a fragment of quite modest' is the wordplay.
'a fragment of' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (I've seen this in other clues).
'ITEM' is hidden within 'quite modest'.
(Other definitions for item that I've seen before include "See couple" , "Boyfriend and girlfriend" , "Also no more" , "two with a link" , "partners" .)