midnight
` But Charlie will never hold his tongue . He will grow excited , and not sleep all night . ' Poor Mrs. Edmonstone ! her trials did not end here , for when she replied to her husband 's inquiry for Guy , Mr. Edmonstone said offence had already been taken at his absence from the dinner ; he would not have had this happen for fifty pounds ; she ought not to have suffered it ; but it was all her nonsense about Charles , and as to not being late , she should have waited till midnight rather than not have brought him . In short , he said as much more than he meant , as a man in a pet is apt to say , and nevertheless Mrs. Edmonstone had to look as amiable and smiling as if nothing was the matter . The least untruthful answer she could frame to the inquiries for Sir Guy Morville was , that young men were apt to be lazy about balls , and this sufficed for good-natured Mrs. Deane , but Maurice poured out many exclamations about his ill-behaviour , and Philip contented himself with the mere fact of his not being there , and made no remark . Laura turned her eyes anxiously on Philip .