nearly ten o’clock
After that he went quietly about the usual business of his toilet . In taking off his dress-coat he noticed the Legion of Honor which Miss Talcott had given him at the ball . He pulled it out of his buttonhole and tossed it into the fire-place . When he had finished dressing he saw with surprise that it was nearly ten o'clock . Ruby Glenn was already two hours nearer home . Woburn stood looking about the room of which he had thought to take final leave the night before ; among the ashes beneath the grate he caught sight of a little white heap which symbolized to his fancy the remains of his brief correspondence with Miss Talcott . He roused himself from this unseasonable musing and with a final glance at the familiar setting of his past , turned to face the future which the last hours had prepared for him .