ten o'clock
what a blaze of glory ! '' Two days before the marriage of Charles Harris and Maria Henderson had been celebrated with considerable pomp , and the party to-night was given in honour of the event by Mrs. Churchill , a widowed sister of Judge Harris . She had spent several years in Paris superintending the education of a daughter , whom she had recently brought home to reside near her uncle , and dazzle all W -- with her accomplishments . At ten o'clock there stood beneath the gas-lights in her elegant parlour a human fleshy antithesis , upon which all eyes were riveted -- Salome Churchill -- a dark imperious beauty , of the Cleopatra type , with very full crimson lips , passionate or pouting as occasion demanded ; brilliant black eyes that , like August days , burned dewless and unclouded , a steady blaze ; thick , shining , black hair elaborately curled , and a rich tropical complexion , clear and glowing as the warm blood that pulsed through her rounded graceful form . She wore a fleecy fabric , topaz-coloured , with black lace trimmings ; yellow roses gemmed her hair , and topaz and ruby ornaments clasped her throat and arms . An Eastern queen she looked , exacting universal homage , and full of fiery jealousy whenever her eyes fell upon one who stood just opposite . Irene 's dress was an airy blue _ tulle _ , flounced to the waist , and without trimming , save the violet and clematis clusters .