ten o'clock
They had been taking tea and spending an evening with a friend , a widow lady , for whom Mrs. Canning had a particular friendship . As there was no gentleman present during the evening , the time passed rather heavily to Canning , who could not get interested in the conversation of the two ladies . Toward nine o'clock he began to feel restless and impatient , and to wonder if his wife would not soon be thinking about going home . But the time passed wearily until ten o'clock , and still the conversation between the two ladies was continued with undiminished interest , and , to all appearance , was likely to continue until midnight . Canning at length became so restless and wearied that he said , thinking that his wife did not probably know how late it was , -- `` Come , Margaret , is n't it ` most time to go home ? '' Mrs. Canning merely looked into her husband 's face , but made no answer . More earnestly than ever the ladies now appeared to enter upon the various themes for conversation that presented themselves , all of which were very frivolous to the mind of Canning , who was exceedingly chafed by his wife 's indifference to his suggestion about going home .