six o'clock
Besides Lady Wildfire and her daughter , both of whom had inquired with a sort of haughty curiosity about the lady who had accompanied Mr. Titmouse from town -- a point which had been at length cleared up to their satisfaction -- there were about a dozen ladies , the wives of the gentlemen who had borne so distinguished a part in the triumphal procession . They certainly looked rather a queer set ; and none of them dared to speak either to Lady Wildfire or her daughter till spoken to by them . Never had old Yatton beheld within its walls so motley a group ; and had the Aubreys continued there , hospitable as they were , accessible and charitable as they were , I leave the reader to guess whether such creatures ever _ would _ have found their way thither . By such guests , however , were the two principal tables crowded on this joyous occasion , and about half-past six o'clock the feast commenced , and a feast it certainly was , both elegant and substantial , nothing having been spared that money could procure . Mr. Aubrey had a fine cellar of wines at Yatton , which , owing to some strange misunderstanding , had been sold by private contract , not among his own friends in the neighborhood , as Mr. Aubrey had intended , and imagined that he had directed , but to Mr. Titmouse . Choice , indeed , were these wines , and supplied on the present occasion in wanton profusion . Champagne , Burgundy , and claret , flowed like water , and the rich old port , sherry , and madeira in like manner ; -- these last , however , not being confined to the two principal rooms , but finding their way into the servants ' hall , where they there drank without stint .