nine o'clock
`` We get later and later , '' said Mrs. Brinkley to John Munt , as she sat watching the slow gathering of the crowd . By half-past eleven it had not yet hidden Mrs. Bellingham , where she stood near the middle of the room , from the pleasant corner they had found after accidentally arriving together . Mr. Brinkley had not come ; he said he might not be too old for receptions , but he was too good ; in either case he preferred to stay at home . `` We used to come at nine o'clock , and now we come at I 'm getting into a quotation from Mother Goose , I think . '' `` I thought it was Browning , '' said Munt , with his witticism manner . Neither he nor Mrs. Brinkley was particularly glad to be together , but at Mrs. James Bellingham 's it was well not to fling any companionship away till you were sure of something else . Besides , Mrs. Brinkley was indolent and good-natured , and Munt was active and good-natured , and they were well fitted to get on for ten or fifteen minutes .