ten at night
At the same time I do n't quite gather why the aunt had her portrait taken as a bride forty years ago . ' '' ` As the tale was told to me , ' said Alexander , ` my aunt was engaged to be married at one time -- indeed the wedding-day had arrived , and she was dressed and waiting for the bridegroom ; but he never made his appearance , having thought proper to leave the place that morning with a `` flame '' of his of earlier date . My aunt took this deeply to heart , and , without being exactly queer in the head , always kept the anniversary of that marriage-day of hers , that was to have been , in a curious way . Early in the morning of it she used to put on her wedding-dress complete , and -LRB- as she had done on the day itself -RRB- lay out a little table of walnut-wood with gilt carvings in her dressing-room , with chocolate , wine , and cake for two people , and then walk slowly up and down , sighing and softly lamenting , till ten at night , when , after she had prayed fervently , Mistress Anne would undress her , and she would go silently to bed , sunk in deep reflection . ' '' ` I call that exceedingly touching , ' said Marzell . ` Woe to the traitor who caused the poor creature that never-forgotten pain ! ' '' ` But there may be another side to the question , ' said Alexander : ` the man whom you accuse of perfidy -- and who was a traitor , no doubt , whatever may have been his motives -- may have had a warning from his good genius ; or , if you prefer to say so , a better feeling may have come to him .