about twelve o'clock
At last up got Mr. Palliser , towards the close of the evening , and occupied a full hour in explaining what taxes the Government might remit with safety , and what they might not , -- Mr. Bott , meanwhile , prompting him with figures from behind with an assiduity that was almost too persistent . According to Mr. Palliser , the words used in the Queen 's Speech were not at all too cautious . The Members went out gradually , and the House became very thin during this oration ; but the newspapers declared , next morning , that his speech had been the speech of the night , and that the perspicuity of Mr. Palliser pointed him out as the coming man . He returned home to his house in Park Lane quite triumphant after his success , and found Lady Glencora , at about twelve o'clock , sitting alone . She had arrived in town on that day , having come up at her own request , instead of remaining at Matching Priory till after Easter , as he had proposed . He had wished her to stay , in order , as he had said , that there might be a home for his cousins . But she had expressed herself unwilling to remain without him , explaining that the cousins might have the home in her absence , as well as they could in her presence ; and he had given way .