twelve o'clock
The return of the Effinghams , after so long an absence , naturally produced a sensation in so small a place , and visiters began to appear in the Wigwam as soon as propriety would allow . Many false rumours prevailed , quite as a matter of course ; and Eve , it was reported , was on the point of being married to no less than three of the inmates of her father 's house , within the first ten days , viz : Sir George Templemore , Mr. Powis , and Mr. Bragg ; the latter story taking its rise in some precocious hopes that had escaped the gentleman himself , in the `` excitement '' of helping to empty a bottle of bad Breton wine , that was dignified with the name of champagne . But these tales revived and died so often , in a state of society in which matrimony is so general a topic with the young of the gentler sex , that they brought with them their own refutation . The third day , in particular , after the arrival of our party , was a reception day at the Wigwam ; the gentlemen and ladies making it a point to be at home and disengaged , after twelve o'clock , in order to do honour to their guests . One of the first who made his appearance was a Mr. Howel , a bachelor of about the same age as Mr. Effingham , and a man of easy fortune and quiet habits . Nature had done more towards making Mr. Howel a gentleman , than either cultivation or association ; for he had passed his entire life , with very immaterial exceptions , in the valley of Templeton , where , without being what could be called a student , or a scholar , he had dreamed away his existence in an indolent communication with the current literature of the day . He was fond of reading , and being indisposed to contention , or activity of any sort , his mind had admitted the impressions of what he perused , as the stone receives a new form by the constant fall of drops of water .