midnight
As for Mr. Runt , he walked about very demurely in a domino , and perpetually paid his respects to the buffet , and ate enough cold chicken and drank enough punch and champagne to satisfy a company of grenadiers . The Lord Lieutenant came and went in state-the ball was magnificent . Miss Kiljoy had partners in plenty , among whom was myself , who walked a minuet with her -LRB- if the clumsy waddling of the Irish heiress may be called by such a name -RRB- ; and I took occasion to plead my passion for Lady Lyndon in the most pathetic terms , and to beg her friend 's interference in my favour . It was three hours past midnight when the party for Lyndon House went away . Little Bullingdon had long since been asleep in one of Lady Charlemont 's china closets . Mr. Runt was exceedingly husky in talk , and unsteady in gait . A young lady of the present day would be alarmed to see a gentleman in such a condition ; but it was a common sight in those jolly old times , when a gentleman was thought a milksop unless he was occasionally tipsy .