four o'clock
She was going to act like a lady -- no one would ever suspect she had once waited on table in the Buon Gusto restaurant , or been a barefoot , miner 's kid . As she put on her black velveteen skirt and best crimson crêpe blouse , she pledged herself to a wary refinement , laid the weight of it on her spirit . The only models she had to follow were the leading ladies of the road companies she had seen , and she impressed upon her mind details of manner from the heroines of `` East Lynne '' and `` The Banker 's Daughter . '' When four o'clock struck she was seated by the center table , a book negligently held in one hand , her feet , in high-heeled , beaded slippers , neatly crossed , and a gold bracelet given her by her father on her arm . She took a last , inspecting glance round the room and found it entirely satisfactory . On the table beside her a battered metal tray held a bottle of native Chianti , two glasses and a box of cigarettes . In Pancha 's world a visitor was always offered liquid refreshment and she had chosen the Chianti as less plebeian than beer and not so expensive as champagne .