Absolution may even be extended to the calculating individual who ravenously times his arrival by the supper hour; but, for a simple-minded person, unaccustomed to the usages of polite society, to believe in the invariability of fixed appointments and, taking an invitation au pied de la lettre, make his appearance a full hour before any other guest would dare to "turn up," from the fear of being thought unfashionable, is simply monstrous! His behaviour is perfectly inexcusable; and, as a punishment, he should in future be compelled for a certain time to dine at our Saxon forefathers' early hour, and go to bed at the sound of the curfew bell instituted by their Norman conquerors--that is how I would teach him manners! I committed this grievous fault on the present occasion.

I had been so anxious to get there in good time and not miss a minute of Min's charming company, that, like our friend Paddy who ate his breakfast over night in order to save time in the morning, I overdid it, arriving there too early.

I saw this at once from Mrs Clyde's face when I was announced, the unhappy premier of all the coming guests.
Perhaps it was only my fancy, as I'm extremely sensitive on such points, for she received me courteously enough, pressing the welcoming cup of coffee and hospitable muffin in an adjoining ante-room on my notice; but, I thought I could perceive, below the veneer of social civility, a sort of "how-tiresome-of-you-to-come-before-anybody-else" look in her eyes, which made me extremely small in my own estimation.
It was a horrible interval waiting for the other guests to come and support me.

I made a vow there and then that I would never again present myself wherever I might be invited out until a full hour beyond the specified time--and I've generally kept it, too! Min did not treat me cavalierly, however, notwithstanding that I had arrived in advance of expectation.

_She_ was all kindness and grace, endeavouring to make the "mauvais quart d'heure" of my solitary guesthood pass away as little uncomfortably to me as possible.
She asked me to come and see her flowers in the bay window of the drawing-room, which she had fitted up as a tiny conservatory; while her mother sat down to the piano and played dreamy music in a desultory fashion.