the hour of ten
But I do not blame her : may she be happier with him than she could have been with me ! and that hope shall whisper peace to regrets which I have been foolish to indulge so long , and it is perhaps well for me that they are about to be rendered forever unavailing . I am staying at an inn , without books , companions , or anything to beguile time and thought , but this pen , ink , and paper . You will see , therefore , a reason and an excuse for my scribbling on to you , till my two sheets are filled , and the hour of ten -LRB- one ca n't well go to bed earlier -RRB- arrived . You remember having often heard me speak of a very extraordinary man whom I met in Italy , and with whom I became intimate . He returned to England some months ago ; and on hearing it my desire of renewing our acquaintance was so great that I wrote to invite myself to his house . He gave me what is termed a very obliging answer , and left the choice of time to myself .