ten o'clock
I shall be obliged to take our ` Undine ' home , and then return for my fair friend , who is as usual surrounded , and inextricable just now . '' While she spoke , Regina 's eyes wandered across the mass of heads , and rested on the commanding form of her guardian , standing among a group of gentlemen collected around Mrs. Carew , who clad in white _ moire antique _ , with a complete overdress of finest black lace , looped with diamond sprays , seemed more than usually regal and brilliant . Mrs. Palma hurried Regina through a side entrance , and down to the carriage , and ere long , having seen her enter the hall at home , bade her good-night , and drove back for Mrs. Carew and Mr. Palma . It was only a little after ten o'clock , and Regina went up to the library , her favourite haunt . She had converted the over-skirt of her dress into an apron , now filled with bouquets from among the number showered upon her ; and selecting one composed of pelargoniums and heliotropes , she placed it in the vase beneath her mother 's picture , and laid the remainder in a circle around it . `` Ah , mother ! they praised your child ; but your voice was missing .