ten o'clock
Gwen , as mentioned before , was dazzling ; superb ; what is apt to be called a cynosure , owing to something Milton said . Nevertheless , the Shrewd Observer , who happened in this case to be Aunt Constance , noticed that at intervals the young lady let her right-hand neighbour talk , and died away into preoccupation , with a vital undercurrent of rippled lip and thoughtful eye . Another of her shrewd observations was that when the Hon. Percival , referring to Mr. Torrens , still an absentee by choice , said : -- `` I tried again to persuade him to come down at feeding-time , but it was no go , '' Gwen came suddenly out of one dream of this sort to say from her end of the table , miles off : -- `` He really prefers dining by himself , I know , '' and went in again . It was this that Aunt Constance referred to in conversation with Mr. Pellew , at about half-past ten o'clock in that same shrubbery walk . They had cultivated each other 's absence carefully in the drawing-room , and had convinced themselves that neither was necessary to the other . That clause having been carried nem . con. , they were entitled to five minutes ' chat , without prejudice .