ten
o'clock
She contented herself by arguing against it , and talking as vivaciously as she could . Her heart really bled for him as she saw his face grow more and more pathetic in its quiet expression of disappointment . But what could she say or do ? He sat till after ten o'clock ; he could not tear himself away . He felt that this was the end of his pleasure in life ; he dreaded the solitude of his thoughts . Mrs. Lee 's resources began to show signs of exhaustion . Long pauses intervened between her remarks ; and at length Carrington , with a superhuman effort , apologized for inflicting himself upon her so unmercifully .