midnight
I wo n't listen ; I ca n't , I must n't , I ought n't . ' So she said , but her head careened , she gave him her coy reluctant ear , with total abandonment to the seductions of his whispers , and the lord let fly a peal of laughter . It had been a supper of copious wine , and the songs which rise from wine . Nature was excused by our midnight naturalists . The two great dames , admonished by the violence of the nobleman 's laughter , laid claim on Mr. Beamish to accompany them at their parting with Chloe and Duchess Susan . In the momentary shuffling of couples incident to adieux among a company , the duchess murmured to Caseldy : ` Have I done it well . ' He praised her for perfection in her acting .