ten o'clock
A whiff of coffee aroma came now and then through the door at the back of the house , which opened near the place of cookery ; piles of white bread and brown gingerbread , and golden butter and rosy ham and new cheese , made a most abundant and inviting display ; and , after the guests were seated , Mr. Sears came in bearing a great dish of the clams , smoking hot . Well , Mrs. Lenox was hungry , through the combined effects of salt air and an early dinner ; she found bread and butter and coffee and ham most excellent , but looked askance at the dish of clams ; which , however , she saw emptied with astonishing rapidity . Noticing at last a striking heap of shells beside her husband 's plate , the lady 's fastidiousness gave way to curiosity ; and after that , -- it was well that another big dishful was coming , or _ somebody _ would have been obliged to go short . At ten o'clock that evening Mr. and Mrs. Lenox took the night train to Boston . `` I never passed a pleasanter afternoon in my life , '' was the gentleman 's comment as the train started . `` Pretty faces go a great way always with you men ! '' answered his wife .