nearly seven o'clock
Mrs. Moran was wondering at his unusual delay , Cornelia feared he would be too weary and perhaps , too much interested in other matters to permit her lover to speak . `` But even so , '' she thought , `` Joris can come again . To-night is not the only opportunity . '' It was nearly seven o'clock when the doctor came , and Cornelia was sure her lover would not be much behind that hour ; but tea time was ever a good time to her father , he was always amiable and gracious with a cup in his hand , and the hour after it when his pipe kept him company , was his best hour . She told her heart that things had fallen out better than if she had planned them so ; and she was so thoughtful for the weary man 's comfort , so attentive and so amusing , that he found it easy to respond to the happy atmosphere surrounding him . He had a score of pleasant things to tell about the fashionable exodus to Philadelphia , about the handsome dresses that had been shown him , and the funny household dilemmas that had been told him . And he was much pleased because Harry De Lancey had been a great part of the day with him , and was very eloquent indeed about the young man 's good sense and good disposition , and the unnecessary , and almost cruel , confiscation of property his family had suffered , for their Tory principles .