four o'clock in the afternoon
Then she threw off the mask , and pirate-like , regardless of the laws of chaperons , resolved to carry on the war as she thought proper . She 'd have done once and for ever with those beasts of women who abused and criticized her . Henceforth she would shut her door against them all , and it would only be open to men -- young men for her daughters , elderly men for herself . At four o'clock in the afternoon the entertainment began . Light refreshments , consisting of tea , claret , biscuits , and cigarettes , were laid out in the dining-room . Having partaken , the company , consisting of three colonels and some half-dozen subalterns , went upstairs to the drawing-room . And in recognition of her flirtation with Harding , a young man replaced Alice at the piano , and for half-a-crown an hour supplied the necessary music .