half past ten
If Mrs. Potiphar catches him at the latter , she is sure to say : `` There it is again ; always reading those exaggerated sketches of society . Odious man that he is . I am sure he never knew a truly womanly woman . '' `` Polly , when he comes back in September I 'll introduce him to you , '' is the only answer I have time to make , for it is already half past ten , and Mrs. P. must be off to the ball . I know that our set is not the world , nor the country , nor the city . I know that the amiable youths who are in league to crush spooneyism are not many , and well I know , that in our set -LRB- I mean Mrs. P. 's -RRB- there are hearts as noble and characters as lofty as in any time and in any land . And yet , as the father of a family -LRB- viz. Frederic , our son -RRB- , I am constrained to believe that our social tendency is to the wildest extravagance .