evening about ten
o'clock
Mrs. Martindale was , of course , the mutual friend and adviser , and she urged an immediate clandestine marriage . For many weeks Mary resisted the persuasions of both . Fenwick and Mrs. Martindale ; but at last , in a state of half distraction of mind , she consented to secretly leave her father 's house , and throw herself upon the protection of one she had not known for six months , and of whose true character she had no certain knowledge . `` Mary is out a great deal of late , it seems to me , '' Mr. Lester remarked , as he sat alone with his wife one evening about ten o'clock . `` So I was just thinking . There is , scarcely an evening now in the week that she has not an engagement somewhere . '' `` I can not say that I much approve of such a course myself .