The hour of nine
Garnet told the New Englander much about New England , touching extenuatingly on the blueness of its laws , the decay of its religion , and the inevitable decline of its industries . The visitor , with only an occasional `` Do n't you think , however '' -- seemed edified . It pleased Barbara to see how often , nevertheless , his eye wandered from the speaker to the head of the board to rest on one so lovely it scarce signified that she was pale and wasted ; one whose genial dignity perfected the firmness with which she declined her daughter 's offer to take her place and task , and smiled her down while Johanna smoothed away a grin . The hour of nine struck . Fair looked startled . `` Were we not to have joined Mr. Ravenel 's party in Suez by this time ? '' `` Yes , but there 's no hurry .