midday
But here , again , she was unable to pursue further her train of thought ; she could not imagine in what way the gossips could be right . And at that moment it dawned upon her mind how bitter was the fate to which Frau Rupius was condemned , no matter whether she now bore it or resisted it . But , as if Anna had again read Bertha 's thoughts , and could not tolerate that the latter should thus insinuate herself into her confidence , the uncanny gravity of her face relaxed suddenly , and she said in an innocent tone : `` Just fancy , my husband is still asleep . He has acquired the habit of remaining awake until late at night , reading and looking at engravings , and then he sleeps on until midday . As for that , it is quite a matter of habit ; when I used to live in Vienna I was incredibly lazy about getting up . '' And thereupon she began to chat about her girlhood , cheerfully , and with a confiding manner such as Bertha had never before noticed in her . She told about her father , who had been an officer on the Staff , about her mother , who had died when she was quite a young woman ; and about the little house in the garden of which she had played as a child .