twenty minutes past eleven
Upon how many a festal procession had those Olympians looked down since that famous house-warming , when the colours were fresh from the painter 's brush , and when the third Lord Fareham 's friend and gossip , King James , deigned to witness the representation of Jonson 's `` Time Vindicated , '' enacted by ladies and gentlemen of quality , in the great saloon , a performance which -- with the banquet and confectionery brought from Paris , and `` the sweet waters which came down the room like a shower from heaven , '' as one wrote who was present at that splendid entertainment , and the _ feux d'artifice _ on the river -- cost his lordship a year 's income , but stamped him at once a fine gentleman . Had he been a trifle handsomer , and somewhat softer of speech , that masque and banquet might have placed Richard Revel , Baron Fareham , in the front rank of royal favourites ; but the Revels were always a black-visaged race , with more force than comeliness in their countenances , and more gall than honey upon their tongues . It was past eleven before the expected succour arrived , and in the interval Lord Fareham had awakened once , and had swallowed a composing draught , having apparently but little consciousness of the hand that administered it . At twenty minutes past eleven Angela heard the bell ring , and ran blithely down the now familiar staircase to open the garden door , outside which she found a middle-aged woman and a tall , sturdy young man , each carrying a bundle . These were the nurse and the watchman sent by Dr. Hodgkin . The woman gave Angela a slip of paper from the doctor , by way of introduction . `` You will find Bridget Basset a worthy woman , and able to turn her hand to anything ; and Thomas Stokes is an honest , serviceable youth , whom you may trust upon the premises , till some of his lordship 's servants can be sent from Chilton Abbey , where I take it there is a large staff . ''