about eight o'clock
Nelson waited upon them at table , radiant , his smile like the keyboard of an ebony piano , and his disappearances into the kitchen were accomplished by means of a surreptitious double-shuffle , and followed by the cachinnating echoes of the vain Mamie 's reception of the visitor 's sallies , which Nelson hastily retailed in passing . Nor was Mrs. Tanberry 's prediction allowed to go unfulfilled regarding the advent of those persons whom she had designated as vagabonds . It may have been out of deference to Mr. Carewe 's sense of decorum -LRB- or from a cautious regard of what he was liable to do when he considered that sense outraged -RRB- that the gallants of Rouen had placed themselves under the severe restraint of allowing three days to elapse after their introduction to Miss Carewe before they `` paid their respects at the house ; '' but , be that as it may , the dictator was now safely under way down the Rouen River , and Mrs. Tanberry reigned in his stead . Thus , at about eight o'clock that evening , the two ladies sat in the library engaged in conversation -- though , for the sake of accuracy , it should be said that Mrs. Tanberry was engaged in conversation , Miss Betty in giving ear -- when their attention was arrested by sounds of a somewhat musical nature from the lawn , which sounds were immediately identified as emanating from a flute and violin . Mrs. Tanberry bounded across the room like a public building caught by a cyclone , and , dashing at the candles , `` Blow 'em out , blow 'em out ! '' she exclaimed , suiting the action to the word in a fluster of excitement . `` Why ? ''