nine o'clock at night
` Oh , what carryings on , ai n't it , dear ? But I wonder where Sarah Matilda is ? I do n't see her and Captain De la Cour . I am afraid she will get lost in the woods , and that would make people talk as they did about Miss Mudge and Doctor Vincent , who could n't find their way out once till nine o'clock at night . ' '' ` They 'll soon get back , dear , ' sais the other , ` let them be ; it looks like watching them , and you know , ' laying an emphasis on you , ` you and I were young once ourselves , and so they will come back when they want to , for though the woods have no straight paths in them , they have short cuts enough for them that 's in a hurry . Cupid has no watch , dear ; his fob is for a purse , ' and she smiles wicked on the mother of the heiress . `` Well , then , who can say this is not a pleasant day to both parties ?