midnight
By thy fruits ye shall know them . '' After a few moments , he added in the old way : `` Do n't think I am going to break my heart about it , nor lose my appetite . Look at the absurdity of the whole thing . I am preaching to you in your baby-waist , here in a Newport ball-room at midnight . I humbly beg your pardon . There are more potent preachers here than I. Besides , I 'm engaged to Mrs. Potiphar 's supper at 12 . Take things more gently , dear Miss Minerva .