about eight o'clock
Not so Eve . She was all in a flutter , and hesitated between two dresses , and by some blessed inspiration decided for the plainest ; but her principal anxiety was , not about herself , but about David 's deportment before the Queen of Fashion , for such report proclaimed Miss Fountain . `` And those fine ladies are so satirical , '' said Eve to herself ; `` but I will lecture him going along . '' Dinner time , and , by consequence , tea time , came earlier in those days ; so , about eight o'clock , a tall , square-shouldered young fellow was walking in the moonlight toward Font Abbey , Eve holding his hand , and tripping by his side , and lecturing him on deportment very gravely while dancing around him and pulling him all manner of ways , like your solid tune with your gamboling accompaniment , a combination now in vogue . All of a sudden , without with your leave or by your leave , the said David caught this light fantastic object up in his arms , and carried it on one shoulder . On this she gave a little squeak ; then , without a moment 's interval , continued her lecture as if nothing had happened . She looked down from her perch like a hen from a ladder , and laid down the law to David with seriousness and asperity .