noon
Eric invented an excuse to leave early , for , when Barbara was not reproaching herself for the engagement , she affected the abject humility of a slave whom he had bought for his pleasure . Perhaps she was amusing herself with a new emotion , perhaps she wanted to keep him alert and suspended , perhaps she enjoyed the vision of herself torn between the two men who wanted her more than anything in the world ... For the second morning in succession Barbara did not telephone . Eric waited until noon and then asked her to dine with him . `` I will , if you -- want me to , '' she answered with the new servile listlessness ; and he wondered again whether she was trying to exact some novel abandonment of adoration or to exhaust him by passive resistance . `` I believe we _ have _ people dining , '' she added . `` Well , choose some other night , '' he suggested .