nearly midnight
The case for Winnington seemed indeed for the moment desperate . After his scene with Delia , he had left the Abbey immediately , and Lady Tonbridge , though certain that something important -- and disastrous -- had happened , would have known nothing , but for a sudden confession from Delia , as the two ladies sat together in the drawing-room after dinner . Delia had abruptly laid down her book , with which she was clearly only trifling -- in order to say -- `` I think I had better tell you at once that my guardian asked me to marry him , this afternoon , and I refused . '' Since this earthquake shock , Madeleine Tonbridge could imagine nothing more unsatisfactory than the conversations between them which had begun in the drawing-room , and lingered on till , now , at nearly midnight , sheer weariness on both sides had brought them to an end . When Madeleine had at last thrown up argument as hopeless , Delia with a face of carven wax , and so handsome through it all that Lady Tonbridge could have beaten her for sheer vexation , had said a quiet goodnight and departed . But she was _ in love with him _ , the foolish , obstinate child ! -- wildly , absorbingly in love with him !