noon
But she was middle-aged , Irish , and sympathetic . If the poor lady had sorrows let her drown them . Madeleine was more wary this time . She told her husband she was determined to take her potions only at noon and at night ; in the daytime she restrained herself after four o'clock , although she took enough to keep up her spirits at the dinner-table to which she had thought it best to return . The doctor , thankful , no longer neglected his practice , and left immediately after dinner for the Club as she went to her room at once and locked the door . There was no doubt of her hostility , but that , too , was not unnatural , and he was content to wait . Society returned to town , but she flatly refused to enter it .