about half after three
Come and have a real good game at ball on the stairs . ' She already had hold of his hand , and would have dragged him off at once , had he not waited to help Charles back to his sofa ; and in the mean time she tried in vain to persuade her more constant playmate , Amabel , to join the game . Poor little Amy regretted the being obliged to refuse , as she listened to the merry sounds and bouncing balls , sighing more than once at having turned into a grown-up young lady ; while Philip observed to Laura , who was officiating as billiard-marker , that Guy was still a mere boy . The fates favoured Amy at last for about half after three , the billiards were interrupted , and Philip , pronouncing the rain to be almost over , invited Guy to take a walk , and they set out in a very gray wet mist , while Charlotte and Amy commenced a vigorous game at battledore and shuttle-cock . The gray mist had faded into twilight , and twilight into something like night , when Charles was crossing the hall , with the aid of Amy 's arm , Charlotte carrying the crutch behind him , and Mrs. Edmonstone helping Laura with her perspective apparatus , all on their way to dress for dinner ; the door opened and in came the two Morvilles . Guy , without , even stopping to take off his great coat , ran at once up-stairs , and the next moment the door of his room was shut with a bang that shook the house , and made them all start and look at Philip for explanation . ` Redclyffe temper , ' said he , coolly , with a half-smile curling his short upper lip .