ten
o'clock
The cloud was thicker and darker than ever all dinner time . Mr. and Mrs. Lyddell tried in vain to talk , he answered them in a short snappish way which he was apt to assume whenever his father made any attempt to check his extravagance . The ladies and Lionel were glad to get into the drawing-room , and leave him and his father to themselves . Tea came and they did not appear , ten o'clock struck , half-past , and they came not . The ladies were putting away their books , and thinking of wishing good night when suddenly the door was thrown open , and in tramped Mr. Lyddell , red with passion , while behind him came Elliot , with less of violence , but with a dark scowl of resentment on his downcast and always unpleasant face . `` Caroline ! '' began Mr. Lyddell , in a voice of thunder , and great was the alarm of all , for her sake , as she turned pale and trembled .