three in the morning
Rosalind conceded the point , and was left alone under a solemn promise not to be a goose and fidget . But she was very deliberate about it ; and though she did n't fidget , she went all the slower that she might think back on a day -- an hour -- of twenty years ago , and on the incident that Gerry had half recalled , quite accurately as far as it went , but strangely unsupported by surroundings or concomitants . It came back to her with both . She could remember even the face of her mother 's coachman Forsyth , who had driven her with Miss Stanynaught , her _ chaperon _ in this case , to the dance where she was to meet Gerry , as it turned out ; and how Forsyth was told not to come for them before three in the morning , as he would only have to wait ; and how Miss Stanynaught , her governess of late , who was over forty , pleaded for two , and Forsyth _ did _ have to wait ; and how she heard the music and the dancing above , for they were late ; and how they waded upstairs against a descending stream of muslin skirts and marked attentions going lawnwards towards the summer night , and bent on lemonade and ices ; and then their entry into the dancing-room , and an excited hostess and daughters introducing partners like mad ; and an excited daughter greeting a gentleman who had come upstairs behind them , with `` Well , Mr. Palliser , you _ are _ late . You do n't deserve to be allowed to dance at all . '' And that was Jessie Nairn , of course , who added , `` I 've jilted you for Arthur Fenwick . '' How well Rosalind could remember turning round and seeing a splendid young chap who said , `` What a jolly shame ! ''