nine o’clock
Handsome Lisa manifested the greatest friendliness towards her brother-in-law . She took care that he went to bed early , so as to be able to rise in good time ; she kept his breakfast hot for him ; and she no longer felt ashamed at being seen talking to him on the footway , now that he wore a laced cap . Quenu , quite delighted by all these good signs , sat down to table in the evening between his wife and brother with a lighter heart than ever . They often lingered over dinner till nine o'clock , leaving the shop in Augustine 's charge , and indulging in a leisurely digestion interspersed with gossip about the neighbourhood , and the dogmatic opinions of Lisa on political topics ; Florent also had to relate how matters had gone in the fish market that day . He gradually grew less frigid , and began to taste the happiness of a well-regulated existence . There was a well-to-do comfort and trimness about the light yellowish dining room which had a softening influence upon him as soon as he crossed its threshold . Handsome Lisa 's kindly attentions wrapped him , as it were , in cotton-wool ; and mutual esteem and concord reigned paramount .