midnight
Dick 's carriage called for them , and took them home again ; and the beauties all agreed -LRB- if he ever married -RRB- that Mrs. Dick would be the most enviable woman on the face of the civilized earth . Even the false reports , which declared that he was privately married already , and on bad terms with his wife , slandered him cordially under the popular name . And his intimate companions , when they alluded among each other to a romance in his life which would remain a hidden romance to the end of his days , forgot that the occasion justified a serious and severe use of his surname , and blamed him affectionately as `` poor dear Dick . '' The hour was midnight ; and the friends , whom the most hospitable of men delighted to assemble round his dinner-table , had taken their leave with the exception of one guest specially detained by the host , who led him back to the dining-room . `` You were angry with our friends , '' Dick began , `` when they asked you about that report of your marriage . You wo n't be angry with Me . Are you really going to be the old maid 's husband ? ''