eleven o’clock
before
He met with ready attention from Sophy and Gilbert , who pronounced that as the cat was to Whittington , so was Hyder to O'More ; but when in his overflowing he proceeded to Lucy , she had neither eyes nor ears for him , and when the vicar told her Mr. O'More was speaking to her , she turned with an air of petulance , so that he felt obliged to beg her pardon and retreat . The Bayford parties never lasted later than a few minutes after ten , but when once Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy and Miss Kendal had possession of the piano and guitar , there was no conclusion . Song succeeded song , they wanted nothing save their own harmony , and hardly waited for Miss Goldsmith 's sleepy thanks . The vicar hated late hours , and the Kendals felt every song a trespass upon their hosts , but the musicians had their backs to the world , and gave no interval , so that it was eleven o'clock before Mr. Kendal , in desperation , laid his hand on his daughter , and barbarously carried her off . The flirtation was so palpable , that Albinia mused on the means of repressing it ; but she believed that to remonstrate , would only be to give Lucy pleasure , and held her peace till a passion for riding seized upon the young lady . The old pony had hard service between Sophy 's needs and Maurice 's exactions , but Lucy 's soul soared far above ponies , and fastened upon Gilbert 's steed . ` And pray what is Gilbert to ride ? '