ten o'clock
It was a painful suspicion and made her silent . Merton was also silent ; to himself he said , `` I knew that it would grieve her a little at first , but she is not unreasonable , and in a short time she will come round to my opinion . The girl is well enough , but not a fit associate for my wife , and it is better to get rid of-her now before making new friends . '' At half-past ten o'clock Constance , still silent , took her candle and went to her bedroom , still with that secret trouble gnawing at her heart . Merton found a book and read until past twelve , and then came to the conclusion that the author was an ass . It happened that he knew something about the author ; he knew , for instance , that he was a married man , and lived in a pretty house at Richmond , and gave garden-parties , to which a great many well-known people went . Well , if this scribbler could make enough by his twaddling books to live in that style , what might not he , Merton , make ?