seven o'clock
I consented . The chaise stopped at a splendid mansion , and I was ushered in by a crowd of liveried servants . Everything was on the most sumptuous and magnificent scale . Having paid my respects to the lady of the house , I retired to dress , as dinner was nearly ready , it being then half-past seven o'clock . It was eight before we sat down . To an observation that I made , expressing a hope that I had not occasioned the dinner being put off , Willemott replied , `` On the contrary , my dear Reynolds , we never sit down until about this hour . How people can dine at four or five o'clock , I can not conceive .