midnight
I returned her glance with an assuring smile that all was well , and went on to where I had left Mademoiselle Chouteau a half-hour before . I could not have expected her to sit in a corner waiting for me all that while , yet when I found that she too had her little coterie , and I was evidently not missed , I felt unaccountably hurt and forlorn : as if there was no place for me , an alien , among these St. Louis French people . As I had done many times before , I turned to Madame Saugrain for comfort . It was nearing midnight , and I had wondered as I came in why they were not dancing . Now I saw the reason of it . Down through the center of the floor came the governor , followed by his tall butler bearing a silver tray with four small bouquets upon it . He went directly to mademoiselle first , and then to the three other queens in turn , presenting each with one of the bouquets and making to each a gallant little speech , which the four maidens received with smiles and blushes and curtsies as became them , but mademoiselle also with a stately grace befitting a queen .