one o'clock
Mrs. Montague grew pale at this shaft , and sat for several moments absorbed in thought . `` I thought that he was in love with Walter Dinsmore 's _ protégée _ , Mona Montague , '' she at last remarked , with a bitter inflection . A peculiar smile flitted over Louis Hamblin 's lips at this remark . But he quickly repressed it , and replied : `` So I heard and thought at one time ; but he was deeply smitten with Ruth the night of the Hazeldean ball , and never left her side after refreshments ; they sat in the balcony , half concealed by the draperies , until after one o'clock . '' `` You do n't mean it ! '' Mrs. Montague exclaimed , with a start and frown . `` Then the girl is more artful than I thought ; but , on the whole , I 'm not sure but that I should prefer to have Ray Palmer marry Ruth Richards rather than Mona Montague -- it might be better for me in the end .