one o'clock
Not to answer a gentlewoman , and a princess into the bargain , was impossible . But my mother was in a difficulty as to how to answer her . To write a note in French struck her as unsuitable , and Russian spelling was not a strong point with my mother herself , and she was aware of it , and did not care to expose herself . She was overjoyed when I made my appearance , and at once told me to go round to the princess 's , and to explain to her by word of mouth that my mother would always be glad to do her excellency any service within her powers , and begged her to come to see her at one o'clock . This unexpectedly rapid fulfilment of my secret desires both delighted and appalled me . I made no sign , however , of the perturbation which came over me , and as a preliminary step went to my own room to put on a new necktie and tail coat ; at home I still wore short jackets and lay-down collars , much as I abominated them . In the narrow and untidy passage of the lodge , which I entered with an involuntary tremor in all my limbs , I was met by an old grey-headed servant with a dark copper-coloured face , surly little pig 's eyes , and such deep furrows on his forehead and temples as I had never beheld in my life .