midnight
Some two weeks after Julia 's arrival , there was a ball given by the Marchioness de Boisfresnay , in her chateau of Boisfresnay , which is situated two or three miles from Vastville . Monsieur and Madame de Lucan were on pleasant visiting-terms with the marchioness . They went to that ball with Julia and her husband , the gentlemen in the coupe , the ladies , on account of their dresses , occupying the carriage alone . Toward midnight , Clotilde took her husband aside , and pointing to her daughter , who was waltzing in the adjoining parlor with a naval officer : `` Hush ! my dear , '' she said ; `` I have a frightful headache , and Pierre is fairly bored to death ; but we have not the courage to take Julia away so early . Do you wish to make yourself very agreeable ? You 'll bring her home , and we will start now , Pierre and myself ; we 'll leave you the carriage . ''