ten o'clock
So I will say no more , dear dad . `` From your loving `` POLLY '' Polly posted her letter on the way to the theatre . This evening she had a private engagement for ten o'clock , and on setting forth to the appointed place she looked carefully about her to make sure that no one watched or followed her . Christopher Parish was not the only young man who had a habit of standing to wait for her at the theatre door . Upon him she could lay her commands with some assurance that they would be observed , but others were less submissive , and at times had given her trouble . To be sure , she could always get rid of importunate persons by the use of her special gift , that primitive sarcasm which few cared to face for more than a minute or two ; but with admirers Polly wished to be as far as possible gracious , never coming to extremities with one of them until she was quite certain that she thoroughly disliked him .