midnight
There was no time for it . Correspondence , engagements , intrigues , whirled her through the waking hours and agitated her repose . The newspaper paragraphs resulted in a shower of letters , inquiring , congratulating , offering good wishes , and all had to be courteously answered , lest the writers should take offence . Invitations to luncheon , to dinner , to midnight ` at homes ' , came thick and fast . If all this resulted from a few preliminary ` puffs ' what , Alma asked herself , would be the consequence of an actual success ? How did the really popular musicians contrive to get an hour a day for the serious study of their art ? Her severe headache had left behind it some nervous disorder , not to be shaken off by any effort -- a new distress , peculiarly irritating to one who had always enjoyed good health .