half past ten
`` Oh , '' said Miss Mayfield quickly , `` his aunt will arrange THAT . '' Mrs. Mayfield , habitually mystified at her daughter 's moods , said no more . She , however , fulfilled her duty conscientiously by rising , throwing a wrap over the young girl , tucking it in at her feet , and having , as it were , drawn a charitable veil over her peculiarities , left her alone . At half past ten the coach dashed up to the `` Half-way House , '' with a flash of lights and a burst of cheery voices . Jeff , coming upon the porch , was met by Mr. Mayfield , accompanying a lady and two gentlemen , -- evidently the guests alluded to by his daughter . Accustomed as Jeff had become to Mr. Mayfield 's patronizing superiority , it seemed unbearable now , and the easy indifference of the guests to his own presence touched him with a new bitterness . Here were HER friends , who were to take his place .