midday
Steps at the back , guarded by two great Pompeian sandstone urns , and pressed by a luxuriant growth , led up to the villa . Gheta looked curiously about as she stepped from the launch and went forward with her brother-in-law . Lavinia followed , with Gheta 's maid and a porter in the rear . Lavinia realized that her sister looked badly ; in the unsparing blaze of midday the wrinkles about her eyes were apparent , and they had multiplied . Although it was past the first of June , Gheta was wearing a linen suit of last year ; and -- as her maid unpacked -- Lavinia saw the familiar pink tulle and the lavender gown with the gold velvet buttons . `` Your dressmaker is very late , '' she observed thoughtlessly . A slow flush spread over the other 's countenance ; she did not reply immediately and Lavinia would have given a great deal to unsay her period .