the hour of
eight
I am sure you must have been in love at some time or other in your life . '' Anybody will understand that Iris could not possibly give her own experience in love-matters , nor could she plunge into speculative philosophy of this kind with her pupil . Obviously the thing must come to an end . Therefore she wrote a letter to him , telling him that `` I.A. '' would meet him , if he pleased , that very evening at the hour of eight . It is by this time sufficiently understood that Iris Aglen professed to teach -- it is an unusual combination -- mathematics and heraldry ; she might also have taught equally well , had she chosen , sweetness of disposition , goodness of heart , the benefits conferred by pure and lofty thoughts on the expression of a girl 's face , and the way to acquire all the other gracious , maidenly virtues ; but either there is too limited a market for these branches of culture , or -- which is perhaps the truer reason -- there are so many English girls , not to speak of Americans , who are ready and competent to teach them , and do teach them to their brothers , and their lovers , and to each other , and to their younger sisters all day long . As for her heraldry , it was natural that she should acquire that science , because her grandfather knew as much as any Pursuivant or King-at-Arms , and thought that by teaching the child a science which is nowadays cultivated by so few , he was going to make her fortune . Besides , ever mindful of the secret packet , he thought that an heiress ought to understand heraldry .