midnight
`` Because , I suppose , that 's what I am , '' answered Ruby ; `` because I 'm goin ' to marry him within the month . '' '' _ Wh-e-e-w ! _ '' But , as a matter of fact , the stranger had known before asking . It was close upon midnight , and in the big parlour at Sheba the courant , having run through its normal stages of high punctilio , artificial ease , zest , profuse perspiration , and supper , had reached the exact point when Modesty Prowse could be surprised under the kissing-bush , and Old Zeb wiped his spectacles , thrust his chair back , and pushed out his elbows to make sure of room for the rendering of `` Scarlet 's my Colour . '' These were tokens to be trusted by an observer who might go astray in taking any chance guest as a standard of the average conviviality . Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lewarne , for example , were accustomed on such occasions to represent the van and rear-guard respectively in the march of gaiety ; and in this instance Jim had already imbibed too much hot `` shenachrum , '' while his wife , still in the stage of artificial ease , and wearing a lace cap , which was none the less dignified for having been smuggled , was perpending what to say when she should get him home . The dancers , pale and dusty , leant back in rows against the wall , and with their handkerchiefs went through the motions of fanning or polishing , according to sex .