evening, about nine o'clock
But the lessons were very practical , given in very clear language , and the professor had an excellent method of demonstration , marred by a single fault , a habit of relapsing into fits of silence , broken by starts and interjections that went off like bombs . Outside of that he was the best of masters , intelligent , patient and faithful . Paul learned to find his way through the complicated labyrinth of books of account and resigned himself to the necessity of asking nothing further . One evening , about nine o'clock , as the young man rose to go , M. Joyeuse asked him if he would do him the honor to take a cup of tea _ en famille _ , a custom of the time of Madame Joyeuse , born Saint-Amand , who used to receive her friends on Thursdays . Since her death , and the change in their financial position , their friends had scattered ; but they had retained that little `` weekly extra . '' Paul having accepted , the good man opened the door and called : `` Grandmamma . '' A light step in the hall and a face of twenty years , surrounded by a nimbus of abundant , fluffy brown hair , abruptly made its appearance .