midnight
For Ida the festivity was not all happiness . She would have been happier at the Homestead , sitting by the fire reading aloud to Miss Wendover -- happier almost anywhere -- for she had not only to endure a kind of gentlemanly persecution from Dr. Rylance , but she was tormented by an ever-present dread of Brian Walford 's appearance . Bessie had sent him a telegram only that morning , imploring him , as a personal favour , to be present at her ball , vowing that she would be deeply offended with him if he did not come ; and more than once in the course of the evening Bessie had told Ida that there was still time , there was a train now just due at Winchester , and that might have brought him . Ida breathed more freely after midnight , when it was obviously too late for any one else to arrive . ` It is your fault , ' said Bessie , pettishly . ` If you had not treated him very unkindly at Mauleverer he would be here to-night . He never failed me before . '