the hour of eleven
Barnard 's collection in general inclined to the severely classical , but we disinterred from the heap a few lighter works of an old-fashioned kind , including a volume of Mendelssohn 's _ Lieder ohne Worte _ , and with one of these Miss Bellingham made trial of her skill , playing it with excellent taste and quite adequate execution . That , at least , was her father 's verdict ; for , as to me , I found it the perfection of happiness merely to sit and look at her -- a state of mind that would have been in no wise disturbed even by _ Silvery Waves _ or _ The Maiden 's Prayer _ . Thus with simple , homely music , and conversation always cheerful and sometimes brilliant , slipped away one of the pleasantest evenings of my life , and slipped away all too soon . St. Dunstan 's clock was the fly in the ointment , for it boomed out intrusively the hour of eleven just as my guests were beginning thoroughly to appreciate one another ; and thereby carried the sun -LRB- with a minor paternal satellite -RRB- out of the firmament of my heaven . For I had , in my professional capacity , given strict injunctions that Mr. Bellingham should on no account sit up late ; and now , in my social capacity , I had smilingly to hear `` the doctor 's orders '' quoted . It was a scurvy return for all my care . When Mr. and Miss Bellingham departed , Thorndyke and Jervis would have gone too ; but noting my bereaved condition , and being withal compassionate and tender of heart , they were persuaded to stay awhile and bear me company in a consolatory pipe .