ten
o'clock
Girls of your time of life , ought to be in the way of seeing the world , too . '' `` In other words , of seeing admirers , major Bob , '' said Maud , laughing , and bending forward to steal a glance in her brother 's face . `` Good night . _ Sir Hugh _ wishes us to send you into his library when we can spare you , and _ my lady _ has sent us a hint that it is ten o'clock , at which hour it is usual for sober people to retire . '' The major kissed both sisters with warm affection -- Beulah fancied with a sobered tenderness , and Maud thought kindly -- and then they retired to join their mother , while he went to seek his father . The captain was smoking in the library , as a room of all - _ head _ - work was called , in company with the chaplain . The practice of using tobacco in this form , had grown to be so strong in both of these old inmates of garrisons , that they usually passed an hour , in the recreation , before they went to bed .