midnight
Delaford marshalled out the poor tutor with a sense of triumph . ` His hopes , at least , were destroyed ! ' thought the butler ; and he proceeded to regale Marianne with the romance of the Barricades , -- how he had himself offered to be Miss Conway 's escort , but Lord Fitzjocelyn had declared that not a living soul but himself should be the young lady 's champion ; and , seeing the young nobleman so bent on it , Mr. Delaford knew that the force of true affection was not to be stayed , no more than the current of the limpid stream , and had yielded the point ; and , though , perhaps , his experience might have spared her the contaminating propinquity of the low rabble , yet , considering the circumstances , he did not regret his absence , since he was required for my lady 's protection , and , no doubt , two fond hearts had been made happy . Then , in the midnight alarm , when the young nobleman had been disabled , Delaford had been the grand champion : -- he had roused the establishment ; he had calmed every one 's fears ; he had suggested arming all the waiters , and fortifying the windows ; he had been the only undaunted representative of the British Lion , when the environs swarmed with deadly foes , with pikes and muskets flashing in the darkness . Fanshawe had been much too busy with her ladyship 's nerves , and too ignorant of French , to gather enough for his refutation , had she wished for it ; and , in fact , she had regarded him as the only safeguard of the party , devoutly believing all his reports , and now she was equally willing to magnify her own adventures . What a hero Delaford was all over the terrace and its vicinity ! People looked out to see the defender of the British name ; and Charlotte Arnold mended stockings , and wondered whether her cruelty had made him so desperately courageous .