midday
There were more singers and musicians and artist folk , and bevies of young girls with their inevitable followings of young men , while mammas and aunts and chaperons seemed to clutter all the ways of the Big House and to fill a couple of motor cars when picnics took place . And Graham wondered if this surrounding of herself by many people was not deliberate on Paula 's part . As for himself , he definitely abandoned work on his book , and joined in the before-breakfast swims of the hardier younger folk , in the morning rides over the ranch , and in whatever fun was afoot indoors and out . Late hours and early were kept ; and one night , Dick , who adhered to his routine and never appeared to his guests before midday , made a night of it at poker in the stag-room . Graham had sat in , and felt well repaid when , at dawn , the players received an unexpected visit from Paula -- herself past one of her white nights , she said , although no sign of it showed on her fresh skin and color . Graham had to struggle to keep his eyes from straying too frequently to her as she mixed golden fizzes to rejuvenate the wan-eyed , jaded players . Then she made them start the round of `` jacks '' that closed the game , and sent them off for a cold swim before breakfast and the day 's work or frolic .