noon
Hard hit , but he took it like a man . '' While all this was going on downtown under the direction of the business end of the house of Breen , equally interesting events were taking place uptown under the guidance of its social head . Strict orders had been given by Mrs. Breen the night before that certain dustings and arrangings of furniture should take place , the spacious stairs swept , and the hectic hired palms in their great china pots watered . I say `` the night before , '' because especial stress was laid upon the fact that on no account whatever were either Mrs. Breen or her daughter Corinne to be disturbed until noon -- neither of them having retired until a late hour the night before . So strictly were these orders carried out that all that did reach the younger woman 's ear -- and this was not until long after mid-day -- was a scrap of news which crept upstairs from the breakfast table via Parkins wireless , was caught by Corinne 's maid and delivered in manifold with that young lady 's coffee and buttered rolls . This when deciphered meant that Jack was not to be at the dance that evening -- he having determined instead to spend his time up stairs with a disreputable old fellow whom he had picked up somewhere at a supper the preceding night . Corinne thought over the announcement for a moment , gazed into the egg-shell cup that Hortense was filling from the tiny silver coffee-pot , and a troubled expression crossed her face .