about
midnight
Why should any young girl care for such a thing , unless she meant to marry the man , and why in the world should it give her any pleasure to hear a man stammer something that would be unintelligible if it were not expected , and then see him wait with painful anxiety for the answer which every woman likes to hesitate a little in giving , in order that it may have its full value ? Such doings are manifestly wicked , unless they are sheer nonsense ! Cecilia rose and rang for her maid ; for it was twelve o'clock , and Romans lunch at half-past twelve , because they do not begin the day between eight and nine in the morning with ham and eggs , omelets and bacon , beefsteak and onions , fried liver , cold joints , tongue , cold ham and pickles , hot cakes , cold cakes , hot bread , cold bread , butter , jam , honey , fruit of all kinds in season , tea , coffee , chocolate , and a tendency to complain that they have not had enough , which is the unchangeable custom of the conquering races , as everybody knows . It is true that the conquerors do not lunch to any great extent ; they go on conquering from breakfast till dinner time without much intermission , because that is their business ; but it is believed that their women , who stay at home , have a little something at twelve , luncheon at half-past two , tea between five and six , dinner at eight , and supper about midnight , when they can get it . Cecilia rang for the excellent Petersen , and said that she would wear the new costume which had arrived from Doucet 's two days ago . There was certainly no reason why she should not wish to look well on this day of all others , and as she turned and saw herself in the glass , she had not the least thought of making a better impression than usual on Guido . She was far too sure of herself for that .