nearly twelve o'clock
Whether it was the excellence of the beverage , or that his lordship was unaccustomed to wine-drinking , or that Jawleyford 's conversation was unusually agreeable , we know not , but the summons to tea and coffee was disregarded , and when at length they did make their appearance , his lordship was what the ladies call rather elevated , and talked thicker than there was any occasion for . He was very voluble at first -- told all how Sponge had knocked him about , how he detested him , and would n't allow him to come to the hunt ball , & c. ; but he gradually died out , and at last fell asleep beside Mrs. Jawleyford on the sofa , with his little legs crossed , and a half-emptied coffee-cup in his hand , which Mr. Jawleyford and she kept anxiously watching , expecting the contents to be over the fine satin furniture every moment . In this pleasant position they remained till he awoke himself with a hearty snore , and turned the coffee over on to the carpet . Fortunately there was little damage done , and , it being nearly twelve o'clock , his lordship waddled off to bed . Amelia , when she came to think matters over in the retirement of her own room , was well satisfied with the progress she had made . She thought she only wanted opportunity to capture him . Though she was most anxious for a good night in order that she might appear to advantage in the morning , sleep forsook her eyelids , and she lay awake long thinking what she would do when she was my lady -- how she would warm Woodmansterne , and what a dashing equipage she would keep .