ten o'clock
Selina told him the history of Gerald 's works of art in so droll a manner , that Marian herself saw it in a much funnier aspect than she had ever done before . He was much diverted , and turning to Marian , said , with seriousness that would have alarmed her , but for Selina 's laughter , and a certain sub-smile about the corners of his mouth , that he hoped he was not to take the Beast as anything personal . Selina told him that she wanted him to convince Marian that it was a very good thing for Gerald to be sent to school , and he set to work to do so in earnest with much kindness , and by asking sundry questions about her brother 's attainments and tastes , he so won her , that she was ready to do him the honour of acknowledging him as one of her own cousins . The evening came too soon to an end , though the carriage had not been ordered to take Marian home , till ten o'clock . It had all been like one dream of brightness , and Marian , when she awoke the next morning , could hardly believe that it was the truth that she had enjoyed herself so much , and that a house containing such happiness for her could be in London or so near her . The schoolroom looked very black and dull after the bright little sitting-room where she had parted with Selina ; the lessons were wearisome , her companions more uncongenial than ever ; she felt actually cross at the examination to which Clara subjected her about every trifle she could think of , in the house of Marchmont . She could have talked of its delights if there had been anybody to care about them in her own way , but that was the great if of Marian 's life .