eight o'clock
to twelve
Their luxuries , in short , are all in the well-considered style suitable for a rich foreign lady and her daughter , who mix in Parisian society with the reserve and delicate taste of two women anxious to avoid attracting too much attention . Kondjé-Gul 's private life is contrived , as well as everything else , to preserve her against solitude or dulness . She is completing her `` civilisation '' with industrious zeal . Every morning , from eight o'clock to twelve , is devoted to work ; governesses from Madame Montier 's come to continue her course of lessons ; then from one to two she practises on the piano . Her curious mind , with its mixture of ardent imagination and youthful intelligence , is really producing a wonderful intellectual structure upon its original foundation of native belief and superstitions . I am often quite surprised by hearing her display , on the subject of our social contradictions , an amount of observation and a grasp of view which would do credit to a philosopher . After two o'clock she dresses , and takes a walk or a ride , or makes calls with her friends , the Montague girls ; for in spite of all my excellent intentions , their intimacy has only increased since they were all emancipated from the restraints of school life .