about eleven
o'clock
It was not long before Andrew found ten o'clock at night too early for him . The theatre was a place positively interdicted by his parents ; and , restrained by some lingering respect for his mother 's feelings , Andrew had , up to the age of seventeen , resisted the strong desire he felt to see a play . At last , however , he yielded to temptation , and went to the theatre . On returning home about eleven o'clock , he found his father sitting up for him . To the stern interrogation as to where he had been so late , he replied with equivocation , and finally with direct falsehood . `` Andrew , '' said Mr. Howland , at length , speaking with unusual severity of tone , and with a deliberation and emphasis that indicated a higher degree of earnestness than usual , `` if you are out again until after ten o'clock , you remain out all night . To this my mind is fully made up .