about ten o'clock
She despised herself for her weakness , and , resolved boldly to face her aunt and every one , she came down to dinner . It was strictly a family party , with Mrs Scarfe added ; for the other three visitors had not yet returned from Windsor . Raby sought protection from her aunt by devoting herself to Mrs Scarfe , and quite delighted that good lady by her brightness and spirit . Mrs Scarfe took occasion in the drawing-room afterwards to go into rhapsodies to her young friend regarding her son ; and when about ten o'clock the holiday - makers arrived home , in high spirits and full of their day 's sport , she achieved a grand stroke of generalship by leaving the two young people together in the conservatory , having previously , by a significant pressure of her son 's arm , given him to understand that now was his time for striking while the iron was hot . Scarfe was in an unusually gay mood , and still a little elevated by the festivities of the day . `` I 'm sure you missed us , '' said he , `` did n't you ? '' `` The house was certainly much quieter , '' said Raby .