five o'clock in the afternoon
To be sure , a very little signal served , -- a word , a look , a thoughtful gesture , -- but he preferred a homage that required no prompting . Moreover , she was guilty of `` smiling on all she looked upon , '' and her acceptance of Andy Black into the ever-widening circle of her admirers offended him deeply . The day dragged interminably . By five o'clock in the afternoon a tango-tea was in progress , and it seemed to Percival that everybody on board was dancing except the missionaries and himself . Even they were taking part as spectators , having secured their places half an hour before the appointed time in order not to miss a moment of the shocking exhibition . Percival went to the upper deck and sought the most secluded corner he could find , but even there he was haunted by the soul-disturbing music . Dancing was one of his accomplishments , and he had trod stately measures through half a dozen London seasons , the admiration and the despair of more than one aspiring mama .