ten o'clock
Mr. Catesby 's face glowed and his eyes grew tender ; Prudence was as clever as she was beautiful . The delicacy with which she had intimated the fact of the unconscious Mrs. Truefitt 's absence on the following evening was beyond all praise . The only depressing thought was that such resourcefulness savoured of practice . He sat in the darkness for so long that even the proximity of Prudence was not sufficient amends for the monotony of it , and it was not until past ten o'clock that the folding-doors were opened and he stood blinking at the girl in the glare of the lamp . `` Quick ! '' she whispered . Mr. Catesby stepped into the lighted room .