two o’clock
Even at hours undue , such as the present , she , privileged , penetrated . Accordingly , unquestioned , unquestioning , the alert step was let down , opened wide was the hall-door , and lightly tripped she up the steps ; but the first look into the hall told her that company was in the house already -- yes -- a breakfast -- all were in the breakfast-room , except Lady Castlefort , not yet come down -- above , the footman believed , in her boudoir . To the boudoir Cecilia went , but Lady Castlefort was not there , and Cecilia was surprised to hear the sound of music in the drawing-room , Lady Castlefort 's voice singing . While she waited in the next room for the song to be finished , Cecilia turned over the books on the table , richly gilt and beautifully bound , except one in a brown paper parcel , which seemed unsuited to the table , yet excited more attention than all the others , because it was directed _ `` Private -- for Lady Katherine Hawksby -- to be returned before two o'clock . '' _ What could it be ? thought Lady Cecilia . But her attention was now attracted by the song which Lady Castlefort seemed to be practising ; the words were distinctly pronounced , uncommonly distinctly , so as to be plainly heard -- `` Had we never loved so kindly , Hail we never loved so blindly , Never met , or never parted .