four in
the morning
My mother took charge of her new daughter-in-law , who cried a little , but , soon recovering , looked as bright and blooming as any of her fair bridesmaids . Plum-cake and wine were then handed round , just to stay our appetites till dinner was announced , -- a substantial repast , to which all did good justice . Then the ball commenced , the bride leading off the dance . It was kept up , with an interval for a hot supper , until three or four in the morning . It was lucky for me that Nora O'Flaherty , for some reason or other , was not present , or I believe that in spite of my uncle 's advice I should have forgotten my poverty and confessed my love . But there 's luck in odd numbers , and there were so many charming girls present that my heart was pretty evenly divided among them . The whole of the guests were put up in the house , -- and pretty close stowing it was , but no one complained , -- and , after a breakfast as substantial as the supper , we set off to return home .