eleven o'clock
She arrived at Mrs Charlton 's very early , and found her old friend in the same state she had left her . She communicated to her the purpose of her return , and begged she would keep her granddaughters up stairs , that the conference in the parlour might be uninterrupted and unheard . She then made a forced and hasty breakfast , and went down to be ready to receive them . They came not till eleven o'clock , and the time of her waiting was passed in agonies of expectation . At length they were announced , and at length they entered the room . Cecilia , with her utmost efforts for courage , could hardly stand to receive them . They came in together , but Mrs Delvile , advancing before her son , and endeavouring so to stand as to intercept his view of her , with the hope that in a few instants her emotion would be less visible , said , in the most soothing accents , `` What honour Miss Beverley does us by permitting this visit !