one
o'clock
When their healths had been proposed and acknowledged they retired , and were soon followed by the younger portion of the male sex ; and , while the J. P. 's and clergymen sat quietly at their wine , which Mr. Porter took care should be remarkably good , and their wives went to look over the house and have tea , their sons and daughters split up into groups , and some shot handicaps , and some walked about and flirted , and some played at bowls and lawn billiards . And soon the band appeared again from the servants ' hall , mightily refreshed ; and dancing began on the grass , and in due time was transferred to the tent , when the grass got damp with the night dew ; and then to the hall of the house , when the lighting of the tent began to fail . And then there came a supper , extemporized out of the remains of the dinner ; after which , papas and mammas began to look at their watches , and remonstrate with daughters , coming up with sparkling eyes and hair a little shaken out of place , and pleading for `` just one more dance . '' `` You have been going on ever since one o'clock , '' remonstrate the parents ; `` And are ready to go on till one to-morrow , '' replied the children . By degrees , however , the frequent sound of wheels was heard , and the dancers got thinner and thinner , till , for the last half hour , some half-dozen couples of young people danced at interminable reel , while Mr. and Mrs. Porter , and a few of the most good-natured matrons of the neighborhood looked on . Soon after midnight the band struck ; no amount of negus could get anything more out of them but `` God save the Queen , '' which they accordingly played and departed ; and then came the final cloaking and driving off of the last guests . Tom and Mary saw the last of them into their carriage at the hall-door , and lingered a moment in the porch .