nine o’clock
The ensuing conversation much interested Aurelia , as it was on the men of letters whose names had long been familiar to her , and whom the two gentlemen had personally known . She heard of Pope , still living at Twickenham , and of his bickerings with Lady Mary Wortley Montagu ; of young Horace Walpole , who would never rival his father as a politician , but who was beginning his course as a _ dilettante _ , and actually pretending to prefer the barbarous Gothic to the classic Italian . However , his taste might be improved , since he was going to make the grand tour in company with Mr. Gray , a rising young poet , in whom Dr. Godfrey took interest , as an Etonian and a Cantab . At nine o'clock Mr. Belamour requested Miss Delavie to let him depute to her the doing the honours of the supper table to his friend , who would return to him when she retired for the night . Then it was that she first saw the guest , a fine , dignified clergyman , in a large grey wig , with a benignant countenance , reminding her of the Dean of Carminster . When she was little , the Dean had bestowed on her comfits and kisses ; but since she had outgrown these attentions , he was wont to notice her only by a condescending nod , and she would no more have thought of conversing with him at table than in his stall in the cathedral . Thus it was surprising to find herself talked to , as Betty might have been , by this reverend personage , who kindly satisfied her curiosity about the King , Queen , and Princesses , but with a discretion which did not diminish that blind loyalty which saw no defects in `` our good king , '' though he was George II .