nearly ten o'clock
The Duchess of Omnium did indeed remark to Lady Chiltern that she remembered something of the same kind happening to the same girl soon after her own marriage . As the Duchess had now been married a great many years this was unkind ; -- but it was known that when the Duchess of Omnium did dislike any one , she never scrupled to show it . `` Lord Rufford is about the silliest man of his day , '' she said afterwards to the same lady ; `` but there is one thing which I do not think even he is silly enough to do . '' It was nearly ten o'clock when the gentlemen came into the room and then it was that the Duchess , -- Arabella 's aunt , -- must find the opportunity of giving Lord Rufford the hint of which the Duke had spoken . He was to leave Mistletoe on the morrow and might not improbably do so early . Of all women she was the steadiest , the most tranquil , the least abrupt in her movements . She could not pounce upon a man , and nail him down , and say what she had to say , let him be as unwilling as he might to hear it .