noon
But Norma did not realize all this . She only knew that all the charm and beauty of the yacht were wasted on her . Everyone ate too much , talked too much , played , flirted , and dressed too much . The women seldom made their appearance until noon ; in the afternoons there was bridge until six , and much squabbling and writing of checks on the forward deck , with iced drinks continually being brought up from the bar . At six the women loitered off to dress for dinner , but the men went on playing for another half hour . The sun sank in a blaze of splendour ; the wonderful twilight fell ; but the yacht might have been boxed up in an armoury for all that her passengers saw of the sea . After the elaborate dinner , with its ices and hot rolls , its warm wines and chilled champagne , cards began again , and unless the ocean was so still that they might dance , bridge continued until after midnight .