about five o'clock
It has bled tremendously ; but I shall stop it as soon as I get to my room . ' It need not be said that the concluding portion of Colonel Vaughan 's speech was addressed to a servant , who came in search of him with the intelligence that the carriage was waiting , and his master ready . He managed to get to his room , however , unperceived , where we will leave him to dress and recover himself at his leisure . We will now return to Miss Gwynne , who pursued her usual avocations until about five o'clock , and then began to wonder what detained Gladys . However , as she was quite independent of maids in her toilette , she went to her room and began to dress herself at the usual hour . She found all her attire already spread upon the bed , as if Gladys anticipated being late ; nothing was wanting , and she had nothing to do but to dress . As it happened , however , she was particularly anxious to look her best that evening ; why , she would not even ask herself ; but she , who was usually careless of what she wore , provided she were properly attired , began to fidget over wreaths and ornaments as if she were going to her first ball .