one o'clock
Applause and laughter followed this conventional little speech , and the toast was honoured in the usual way , Lucy bowing and smiling her thanks to all present . And then there ensued one of those strange impressions -- one might almost call them telepathic instead of atmospheric effects -- which , subtly penetrating the air , exerted an inexplicable influence on the mind ; -- the expectancy of some word never to be uttered , -- the waiting for some incident never to take place . People murmured and smiled , and looked and laughed , but there was an evident embarrassment among them , -- an under-sense of something like disappointment . The fortunately commonplace and methodical habits of waiters , whose one idea is to keep their patrons busy eating and drinking , gradually overcame this insidious restraint , and the supper went on gaily till at one o'clock the Hungarian band again began to play , and all the young people , eager for their `` extras '' in the way of dances , quickly rose from the various tables and began to crowd out towards the ballroom . In the general dispersal , Lucy having left him for a partner to whom she had promised the first `` extra , '' Helmsley stopped to speak to one or two men well known to him in the business world . He was still conversing with these when Mrs. Sorrel , not perceiving him in the corner where he stood apart with his friend , trotted past him with an agitated step and flushed countenance , and catching her daughter by the skirt of her dress as that young lady moved on with the pushing throng in front of her , held her back for a second . `` What have you done ? ''