eleven o'clock
he has been discovered at this late hour meeting me in private ! The story will reach his family with all the hyperbole of exaggeration ; -- how will his noble mother disdain me ! how cruelly shall I sink before the severity of her eye ! '' Mrs Charlton tried to comfort her , but the effort was vain , and she spent her time in the bitterest repining till eleven o'clock . Delvile 's not returning then added wonder to her sadness , and the impropriety of his returning at all so late , grew every instant more glaring . At last , though in great disturbance , and evidently much ruffled in his temper , he came ; `` I feared , '' he cried , `` I had passed the time for admittance , and the torture I have suffered from being detained has almost driven me wild . I have been in misery to see you again , -- your looks , your manner , -- the letter you talk of , -- all have filled me with alarm ; and though I know not what it is I have to dread , I find it impossible to rest a moment without some explanation .