ten o'clock
To humour her he stayed till midnight , and then set out . He had made no progress in his suit ; but he had assured himself that Barbara gave no other guest the preference , and nearly everybody in the neighbourhood was there . `` Tis only a matter of time , ' said the calm young philosopher . The next morning he lay till near ten o'clock , and he had only just come out upon the head of the staircase when he heard hoofs upon the gravel without ; in a few moments the door had been opened , and Sir John Grebe met him in the hall , as he set foot on the lowest stair . ` My lord -- where 's Barbara -- my daughter ? ' Even the Earl of Uplandtowers could not repress amazement . ` What 's the matter , my dear Sir John , ' says he .