midnight
The women seldom made their appearance until noon ; in the afternoons there was bridge until six , and much squabbling and writing of checks on the forward deck , with iced drinks continually being brought up from the bar . At six the women loitered off to dress for dinner , but the men went on playing for another half hour . The sun sank in a blaze of splendour ; the wonderful twilight fell ; but the yacht might have been boxed up in an armoury for all that her passengers saw of the sea . After the elaborate dinner , with its ices and hot rolls , its warm wines and chilled champagne , cards began again , and unless the ocean was so still that they might dance , bridge continued until after midnight . Norma 's happiest times had been when she arose early , at perhaps seven , and after dressing noiselessly in their little bathroom , crept upstairs without waking Caroline . Sunshine would be flooding the ocean , or perhaps the vessel would be nosing her way through a luminous fog -- but it was always beautiful . The decks , drying in the soft air , would be ordered , inviting , deserted .