eight o'clock
Elise was thirty years of age and not repellent of aspect . On a black dress she wore the smallest white muslin apron that either Audrey or Miss Ingate had ever seen . She kept pins in her mouth , but in other respects showed few eccentricities beyond an extreme excitability . When at eight o'clock Mademoiselle 's new gown , promised for seven , had not arrived , Elise begged permission to use Madame 's salts . When the bell rang at eight-thirty , and a lackey brought in an oval-shaped box with a long loop to it of leathern strap , she only just managed not to kiss the lackey . The rapid movement of Mademoiselle and Elise with the contents of the box from the drawing-room into Mademoiselle 's bedroom was the last rushing and swishing that preceded a considerable peace . Madame was absolutely ready , in her bedroom .