But, company or no company, there were prayers at ten o'clock, after which the General took his candle and went to his bedroom.
There were times, of course, when Nelly went out to balls and entertainments, and then Sir Denis was to be seen on duty, even though there were a good many ladies who would be willing to take the chaperonage of his daughter off his hands.

But that was an office he would relinquish to no one.

He was the most patient of chaperons, too, and never grumbled if the daylight found him still at the whist-table, although he would rise at the same hour as usual and carry out his appointed round for the day as if he had not lost his sleep over-night.
Of course, Nelly might stay a-bed.

He wouldn't have Nelly's roses spoilt, and the young needed their proper amount of sleep.

As for himself, he couldn't sleep a wink after seven, no matter how late he had been up the night before.
But, on the whole, they lived a quiet life.