ten o'clock
He gave me a half hour 's practice , for the most part in quatre and tierce , -- my A B C 's , as it were , -- and the ease with which he held me off and bent his foil against my breast at pleasure chafed me greatly , and showed me how much I had yet to learn , besides making me somewhat less vain of my size and strength . For my antagonist was but a small man , and yet held me at a distance with consummate ease , and twisted my foil from my hand with a mere turn of his wrist . Still , he had the grace to commend me when the bout was ended , and I at once arranged to take two lessons daily while I remained in Williamsburg . It was ten o'clock when I turned my steps toward the house where the Washingtons were stopping , and , with much inward trepidation , walked up to the door and knocked . In a moment I was in the presence of the ladies , Mrs. Washington receiving me very kindly , and Dorothy looking doubly adorable in her simple morning frock . But I was ill at ease , and the sound of voices in an adjoining room increased my restlessness . `` Do you not see what it is , madam ? ''