About midnight
The smiles of the more experienced of this young man 's listeners were well-bred and concealed , and the conversation turned to other subjects . It was easy to raise the laugh on such an occasion , and contrary to the usage of the Wigwam , where the men usually left the table with the other sex , Captain Truck , John Effingham , Mr. Bloomfield , and Mr. Howel , made what is called a night of it . Much delicious claret was consumed , and the honest captain was permitted to enjoy his cigar . About midnight he swore he had half a mind to write a letter to Mrs. Hawker , with an offer of his hand ; as for his heart , that she well knew she had possessed for a long time . The next day , about the hour when the house was tranquil , from the circumstance that most of its inmates were abroad on their several avocations of boating , riding , shopping , or walking , Eve was in the library , her father having left it , a few minutes before , to mount his horse . She was seated at a table , writing a letter to an aged relative of her own sex , to communicate the circumstance of her marriage . The door was half open , and Paul appeared at it unexpectedly , coming in search of his young bride .