midday
Sometimes , when I am putting on an evening dress , I may ask for a little help perhaps -- that is all . '' `` She will be quite at your service , miss : I hope you will not scruple to ring for her , '' the chief of the maids replied , and then made a dignified exit . The maid of inferior degree , Fosset , speedily appeared ; a pale-complexioned , meek-looking young woman , who set about unpacking Clarissa 's trunks with great skill and quickness , and arranged their contents in the capacious maple wardrobe , while their owner washed her face and hands and brushed the dust of her brief journey out of her dark brown hair . A clamorous bell rang out the summons to the midday meal presently , and Clarissa went down to the hall , where a watchful footman took her in charge . `` Luncheon is served in the octagon room , miss , '' he said , and straightway led her away to an apartment in an angle of the Castle : a room with a heavily-carved oak ceiling , and four mullioned windows overlooking the river ; a room hung with gilt and brown stamped leather , and furnished in the most approved mediaeval style . There was an octagon table , bright with fruit and flowers , and a good many ladies seated round it , with only here and there a gentleman . There was one of these gentlemen standing near Lady Laura 's chair as Clarissa went into the room , tall and stout , with a very fair good-natured countenance , light blue eyes , and large light whiskers , whom , by reason of some careless remarks of her father 's , she guessed at once to be Mr. Armstrong ; a gentleman of whom people were apt to say , after the shortest acquaintance , that there was not much in him , but that he was the best fellow in the world -- an excellent kind of person to be intrusted with the disposal of a large fortune , a man by whom his neighbours could profit without a too painful sense of obligation , and who was never so happy as when a crowd of people were enjoying life at his expense .