nearly twelve
o'clock
Is it the first time ? '' said Gigia . `` If only one could hope that it would be the last , '' returned her mistress with a half laugh , half sigh . By the time all these arrangements were made it was nearly twelve o'clock ; and Bianca , dismissing her maid , placed herself , not without some care in the arrangement of her delicate draperies , on the sofa . The judicious Gigia had said that the extent of snowy bosom exposed was not too liberal , due consideration being had to the circumstance that the Diva was to be caught by an unexpected surprise in an undress . So , as Bianca meant to be very much surprised , she carefully , and with dainty fingers , drew back the muslin on either side just a thought , so as to permit to an exploring eye merely such a suggestive peep of the swelling curves on either side as might furnish an estimate of the outline of the veiled heights beyond . She smiled , half with pleased consciousness and half with self-mockery , as she did so : then carefully arranged her drapery so as to allow two slim ankles to be visible just at the point where they crossed each other in a position which exhibited the curved instep of one slender foot in a full front view , and the side of the other negligently thrown across it .