about ten o'clock
With the lady again apparently pacified , we rejoined the company , and the evening passed in music and conversation . The shadow did not entirely leave the face of Gertrude , and she watched me continually . For myself , I had no thought whatever on the subject , except sorrow for her painful hallucination . `` At about ten o'clock , the brother rose to go for his horse , and I accompanied him to look after mine but not to go home , for the `` courting '' hours -- the dearest of all -- were yet to come . At the stable , as he was mounting , we talked of the speed of his horse and of the one I rode ; and he bantered me to mount and ride with him a mile . There was a splendid stretch of smooth road for a couple of miles on his way , and without a moment 's thought of Gertrude I threw the saddle on my horse and rode away with him , the people at the house being altogether unaware that I had gone farther than to the stables . `` I have no idea what set us to horse-racing on that Sunday night ; but race we did .