five o'clock
Lady Mary was quite as handsome as her portraits : a cold blue and white and ashen beauty whose carriage and manifest of race were in curious contrast , Lee had told Betty , to a nervous manner and the loud voice of one who conceived that social laws had been invented for the middle class . But there was little vivacity in her manner to-day , and her voice was not audible across the large room . She looked tired . It was half-past five o'clock , and doubtless she had been on her feet since three . But she was smiling graciously upon her visitors , and gave each a warmth of welcome which betrayed the wife of the ambitious politician . `` Her mouth is not so selfish as in her photographs , '' observed the astute Betty . `` I suppose in the depths of her soul she hates this , but she does it ; and if she loves the man , she must think it well worth while . ''