midnight
Her brilliant costume carefully laid aside , she was arranging her dark hair into its habitually modest braid ; her very features composing themselves , as she did so , into their wonted aspect of gentleness and submission . All the change of dress being little in comparison with the complete alteration now observable in her whole air and demeanor , she seemed a totally different being . And she was so , too ; for while hypocrites to the world , we completely forget that we share in the deception ourselves . IT was past midnight , the Opera was just over , and the few privileged guests who were permitted to pay their visits to Lady Hester Onslow were assembled in the little drawing-room and boudoir sacred to these exclusive receptions . Nothing could be in stronger contrast than the gorgeous splendor of the apartment and the half-dressed , careless , lounging ease of the men as they stretched themselves on the ottomans , lounged on the sofas , or puffed their cigars , alike indifferent to the place and the presence of two ladies who , dressed in the very perfection of `` toilette , '' did the honors of the reception . Lady Hester , who wore a small embroidered velvet cap , coquettishly set on one side of the head , and a species of velvet jacket , such as is common in Greece , lay upon a sofa beneath a canopy of pink silk covered with lace ; a most splendidly ornamented hooka , the emerald mouthpiece of which she held in her hand , stood on a little cushion beside her ; while grouped around in every attitude that taste and caprice suggested on chairs , on cushions , squabs , `` Prie-Dieu '' and other drawing-room devices of a like nature were some half-dozen men , whose air and bearing pronounced them long habituated to all the usages of society . One stamp of feature and style pervaded all ; pale , dark-eyed , black-bearded , and weary-looking , they seemed as though they were tired of a life of dissipation , and yet utterly incapable of engaging in any other .