ten o'clock
It was , however , obviously necessary that he should see Lady Glencora before the course of events could be made to do anything for him . He had written to her , making his proposition in bold terms , and he felt that if she were utterly decided against him , her anger at his suggestion , or at least her refusal , would have been made known to him in some way . Silence did not absolutely give consent , but it seemed to show that consent was not impossible . From ten o'clock to past eleven he stood about on the staircase of his aunt 's house , waiting for the name which he was desirous of hearing , and which he almost feared to hear . Men spoke to him , and women also , but he hardly answered . His aunt once called him into her room , and with a cautionary frown on her brow , bade him go dance . `` Do n't look so dreadfully preoccupied , '' she said to him in a whisper .