midnight
said his partner , and taking him by the hand she drew him back through the arch , and the dance was repeated . Three times in succession was this done in response to enthusiastic applause , and Quincy was beginning to think that he would soon fall in his tracks . He had no idea that any such fate would befall his partner , for she seemed equal to an indefinite number of repetitions . But , as has been said before , to all good things an end must come at last , and when the old-fashioned Connecticut clock on the mantelpiece clanged out the midnight hour , as if by magic a hush came over the company and the jollities came to an end . Then followed a rush for capes , and coats , and jackets , and shawls , and hats . Then came good-byes and good-nights , and then the girls all kissed Huldy and her mother , wished them long life and happiness , while their escorts stood quietly by thinking of the pleasant homeward trips , and knowing in their hearts that they should treasure more the pressure of the hand or the single good-night kiss yet to come than they did the surprise party kisses that had been theirs during the evening . Mrs. Mason and ` Zekiel had prepared Alice for her homeward trip .