nearly nine o'clock
Now that the girl 's consent to the marriage was secured , and her lips were sealed as to her own feelings on the subject , Col. Anglesea had no fears of the final result ; nor was he in such special haste as to think it necessary to trouble Mr. Force with his suit on this same night , when the good gentleman should return , weary from his day 's attendance at court . Therefore he resolved to defer the important interview until the next morning , when his own method of procedure might also be more matured . Mr. Force , in fact , came home rather late that evening . Tea had been kept waiting for him so long that it was nearly nine o'clock when the family assembled around the table . There were Mr. and Mrs. Force , Col. Anglesea , Miss Meeke , Wynnette and Elva ; but there was one absentee . `` Where is Odalite ? '' inquired her father , looking around the table .