one o'clock
Amy , who was romance personified , under a plain and demure exterior , had observed Nina 's long conversation with Royal Blondin , and had found an arch allusion to it so well received by Nina that she had followed up that line of conversation , almost without variation , ever since . By this time the girls had confided to each other , over a box of chocolates in the deep chairs of the morning room , everything of a sentimental nature that had ever happened to them in their lives , and much that had not . Amy was convinced that Mr. Blondin was just desperately in earnest , and that , for the sake of other aspirants , Nina ought not to trifle with him , and Nina , with blazing cheeks and tumbled hair , was assuming rapidly the airs of a sad coquette . Amy was to sleep with Nina , and Harriet realized , as she superintended their fluttered dressing , that she , Harriet , would be obliged to go to their door five times , between eleven and one o'clock that night , and tell them that they must stop talking . With the grave manner that always impressed young girls , and with a somewhat serious face , she was busying herself with their frills and ribbons , when from the bathroom , where Amy was drawing on silk stockings , and Nina had her toothbrush in her mouth , she was electrified by a chance scrap of their conversation . `` If I do mention it to Mother , '' said Nina , rather thickly , `` she will only scold me ! A man of his age -- she 'd be furious ! ''