twelve o'clock
_ Soyez amant , et vous serez inventif _ , '' is a pithy proverb , and has held good in many an illustrious instance , but in none , perhaps , more conspicuously than in that of Mr. Stephen Corbold 's passion for Miss Mowbray . One of the earliest proofs he gave of this , was the persuading Mrs. Mowbray that the only way in which he could , consistently with his other engagements , devote to her as much time as her affairs required , would be , by passing every evening with her . And he did pass every evening with her : and poor Helen was given to understand , in good set terms , that if she presumed to retire before that excellent man Mr. Stephen Corbold had finished his last tumbler of soda-water and Madeira , not only would she incur her mother 's serious displeasure , but be confided -LRB- during their absence from Mowbray -RRB- to the spiritual instruction of some _ earnest _ minister , who would teach her in what the duty of a daughter consisted . And so Helen Mowbray sat till twelve o'clock every night , listening to the works of the saints of the nineteenth century , and exposed to the unmitigated stare of Mr. Stephen Corbold 's grey eyes . The constituting himself the guide and protector of the ladies through a series of extemporary preachings and lecturings on Sunday , was perhaps too obvious a duty to be classed as one of love 's invention : but the ingenuity shown in persuading Mrs. Mowbray that it would be necessary for the completion of her business that he should attend her home , most certainly deserves this honour . Though no way wanting in that quality of mind which the invidious denominate `` impudence , '' and the judicious `` proper confidence , '' -- a quality as necessary to the fitting out of Mr. Stephen Corbold as parchment and red tape , -- he nevertheless felt some slight approach to hesitation and shame-facedness when he first hinted the expediency of this measure . But his embarrassment was instantly relieved by Mrs. Mowbray 's cordial assurance that she rejoiced to hear such a manner of concluding the business was possible , as she knew it would give their `` excellent minister '' pleasure to see his cousin .