ten
o'clock
She felt the symptoms of fainting , and eagerly snatched a glass of water , which the servant was holding to Sandford , who had called for it , and drank it off ; -- as she returned the glass to the servant , she began to apologize to Mr. Sandford for her seeming rudeness , but before she could utter what she intended , he said , good-naturedly , `` Never mind -- you are very welcome -- I am glad you took it . '' She looked at him to observe , whether he had really spoken kindly , or ironically ; but before his countenance could satisfy her , her thoughts were called away from that trivial matter , and again fixed upon Lord Elmwood . The moments seemed tedious till he came home to supper , and yet , when she reflected how short the remainder of the evening would be after that time , she wished to defer the hour of his return for months . At ten o'clock he arrived ; and at half after ten the family , without any visitor , met at supper . Miss Milner had considered , that the period for her to counterfeit appearances , was diminished now to a most contracted one ; and she rigorously enjoined herself not to shrink from the little which remained . The certain end , that would be so soon put to this painful deception , encouraged her to struggle through it with redoubled zeal ; and this was but necessary , as her weakness increased . She therefore listened , she talked , and even smiled with the rest of the company , nor did _ their _ vivacity seem to arise , from a much less compulsive source than her own .