four o'clock in the
afternoon
She begs you will understand that she does not mean you , the be-ribboned and be-spangled and be-rouged frequenter of ball and _ soirée _ , with your well-taught , drooping lashes , or wide girl 's eyes untamed and wondering , your flushing color , and your pulse up to a hundred . You are very pretty for your pains , -- O , to be sure you are very pretty ! She has not the heart to scold you , though you are dancing and singing and flirting away your golden nights , your restful , young nights , that never come but once , -- though you are dancing and singing and flirting yourselves merrily into your grave . She would like to put in a plea before the eloquence of which Cicero and Demosthenes , Beecher and Sumner , should pale like wax-lights before the sun , for the new fashion said to be obtaining in New York , that the _ soirée _ shall give place to the _ matinée _ , at which the guests shall assemble at four o'clock in the afternoon , and are expected to go home at seven or eight . That would be not only civilized , it would be millennial . But Keturah is perfectly aware that you will do as you will . If the excitement of the `` wee sma ' hours ayont the twal '' prove preferable to a quiet evening at home , and a good , Christian , healthy sleep after it , why the `` sma ' hours '' it will be .