eleven o'clock
thought I , as I gazed with a feeling of interest I could not restrain , upon her beautiful features , which were now marked by an expression of the most touching sadness -- `` who could believe that she was the same person who , but five minutes since , seemed possessed by the spirit of frolic and merriment , and appeared to have eyes and ears for nothing beyond the jokes and drolleries of Freddy Coleman ? '' `` That 's a very pretty song , my dear , '' said Mrs. Coleman ; `` and I 'm very much obliged to you for singing it , only it has made me cry so , it has given me quite a cold in my head , I declare ; '' and , suiting the action to the word , the tender-hearted old lady began to wipe her eyes , and execute sundry other manoeuvres incidental to the malady she had named . At this moment Freddy returned , laden with music-books . Miss Saville immediately fixed upon a lively duet which would suit their voices , and song followed song , till Mrs. Coleman , waking suddenly in a fright , after a tremendous attempt to break her neck , which was very near proving successful , found out that it was past eleven o'clock , and consequently bed-time . It can scarcely be doubted that my thoughts , as I fell asleep -LRB- for , unromantic as it may appear , truth compels me to state that I never slept better in my life -RRB- , turned upon my unexpected meeting with Clara Saville . The year and a half which had elapsed since the night of the ball had altered her from a beautiful girl into a lovely woman . Without in the slightest degree diminishing its grace and elegance , the outline of her figure had become more rounded , while her features had acquired a depth of expression which was not before observable , and which was the only thing wanting to render them -LRB- I had almost said -RRB- perfect .