nearly eleven o’clock
Here we are ; come along , -- no ceremony . Mind the two steps ; that 's it , Mrs. Dalrymple , Mr. O'Malley ; Mr. Sparks , Mr. Burton , my daughters . Is tea over , girls ? '' `` Why , Papa , it 's nearly eleven o'clock , '' said Fanny , as she rose to ring the bell , displaying in so doing the least possible portion of a very well-turned ankle . Miss Matilda Dal laid down her book , but seemingly lost in abstraction , did not deign to look at us . Mrs. Dalrymple , however , did the honors with much politeness , and having by a few adroit and well-put queries ascertained everything concerning our rank and position , seemed perfectly satisfied that our intrusion was justifiable . While my _ confrère _ , Mr. Sparks , was undergoing his examination I had time to look at the ladies , whom I was much surprised at finding so very well looking ; and as the ensign had opened a conversation with Fanny , I approached my chair towards the other , and having carelessly turned over the leaves of the book she had been reading , drew her on to talk of it .