twelve o'clock
I shall be able to go on -- again directly . '' Her conversation with Crosbie did not get much beyond that , and yet she felt that she had never done better than on this occasion . Though there were , at most , not above five couples of dancers , and though they who did not dance , such as the squire and Mr. Boyce , and a curate from a neighbouring parish , had , in fact , nothing to amuse them , the affair was kept on very merrily for a considerable number of hours . Exactly at twelve o'clock there was a little supper , which , no doubt , served to relieve Mrs. Hearn 's ennui , and at which Mrs. Boyce also seemed to enjoy herself . As to the Mrs. Boyces on such occasions , I profess that I feel no pity . They are generally happy in their children 's happiness , or if not , they ought to be . At any rate , they are simply performing a manifest duty , which duty , in their time , was performed on their behalf .