ten o'clock
`` I had begun to fancy I was practising for nothing , and that my father would never do his child the honour of listening to her again , but I remembered the enchanted halls of Oakwood , and I thought there at least I might chain him to my side , and so I continued my labours . '' `` Let us fancy ourselves there , '' replied her father , smiling ; and lights appearing , Emmeline and Ellen were speedily at the instruments , bestowing pleasure unalloyed by this domestic use of their talents to those dear ones who had so assiduously cultivated them . Their improvement , under the best professors in London , had been rapid ; for , carefully prepared , no difficulties had to be overcome ere improvement commenced ; and the approbation and evident pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton amply repaid those young and innocent beings for all the exertions they had made , particularly Emmeline , who , as we know , had determined , on her first arrival in London , to prove she would not learn , when all around her was so changed . `` Surely , surely , Caroline , surrounded by gaiety as she is , can not be as happy as I am to-night , '' burst with wild glee from the lips of Emmeline , as at about half-past ten o'clock her father kissed her glowing cheek , and thanked her for the pleasing recreation she had given him . She had scarcely spoken , when a carriage was heard driving somewhat rapidly through the Square , then stopped , it appeared at their door , and a thundering and truly aristocratic rap resounded , startling not a little the inmates of that peaceful drawing-room . `` Who can it be at this hour ? '' demanded Emmeline , in an accent of bewilderment .