the hour
of ten
In short , they seemed to relish each other 's conversation , during which our young Damon acquitted himself with great skill in all the duties of gallantry : he laid hold of proper opportunities to express his admiration of her charms , had recourse to the silent rhetoric of tender looks , breathed divers insidious sighs , and attached himself wholly to her during the remaining part of the entertainment . When the company broke up , he attended her to her lodgings , and took leave of her with a squeeze of the hand , after having obtained permission to visit her next morning , and been informed by the mother that her name was Miss Emilia Gauntlet . All night long he closed not an eye , but amused himself with plans of pleasure , which his imagination suggested in consequence of this new acquaintance . He rose with the lark , adjusted his hair into an agreeable negligence of curl , and dressing himself in a genteel gray frock trimmed with silver binding , waited with the utmost impatience for the hour of ten , which no sooner struck than he hied him to the place of appointment , and inquiring for Miss gauntlet , was shown into a parlour . Here he had not waited above ten minutes , when Emilia entered in a most enchanting undress , with all the graces of nature playing about her person , and in a moment riveted the chains of his slavery beyond the power of accident to unbind . Her mother being still abed , and her brother gone to give orders about the chaise , in which they proposed to return that same day to their own habitation , he enjoyed her company a whole hour , during which he declared his love in the most passionate terms , and begged that he might be admitted into the number of those admirers whom she permitted to visit and adore her . She affected to look upon his vows and protestations as the ordinary effect of gallantry , and very obligingly assured him that were she to live in that place she should be glad to see him often ; but as the spot on which she resided was at a considerable distance , she could not expect he would go so far , upon such a trifling occasion , as to take the trouble of providing himself with her mamma 's permission .