six o'clock in the evening
He talked on very pleasantly , and greatly to Laura 's satisfaction , until Pen himself appeared , and , as has been said , found these gentlemen . Pen behaved very courteously to the pair , now that they had found their way into his quarters ; and though he recollected with some twinges a conversation at Oxbridge , when Pynsent was present , and in which after a great debate at the Union , and in the midst of considerable excitement produced by a supper and champagne-cup -- he had announced his intention of coming in for his native county , and had absolutely returned thanks in a fine speech as the future member ; yet Mr. Pynsent 's manner was so frank and cordial , that Pen hoped Pynsent might have forgotten his little fanfaronade , and any other braggadocio speeches or actions which he might have made . He suited himself to the tone of the visitors then , and talked about Plinlimmon and Magnus Charters , and the old set at Oxbridge , with careless familiarity and high-bred ease , as if he lived with marquises every day , and a duke was no more to him than a village curate . But at this juncture , and it being then six o'clock in the evening , Betsy , the maid , who did not know of the advent of strangers , walked into the room without any preliminary but that of flinging the door wide open before her , and bearing in her arms a tray , containing three tea-cups , a tea-pot , and a plate of thick bread-and-butter . All Pen 's splendor and magnificence vanished away at this -- and he faltered and became quite abashed . `` What will they think of us ? '' he thought : and , indeed , Wagg thrust his tongue in his cheek , thought the tea infinitely contemptible , and leered and winked at Pynsent to that effect .