five to eight o'clock in the evening
To his face she gave him none , -- an uncivil proceeding in 1714 ; but Mrs Jane being allowedly an eccentric character , no one expected her to conform to conventional rules on all occasions . It would seem that Mr Welles wished to lose no time in paying his court to Madam ; for that very evening , as soon as calling-hours began , he put in an appearance at White-Ladies . Calling-hours and visiting-days were as common then as now ; but the hours were not the same . From five to eight o'clock in the evening was the proper time for a visit of ceremony ; candles were always lighted , there was a special form of knock , and the guests sat round the room in a prim circle . Perhaps the `` cats , dogs , and pitchforks '' alluded to before had spoiled the pink and buff suit which had roused the scorn of Mrs Jane . The colours in which Mr Welles chose to make his _ debut _ at White-Ladies were violet and white . A violet velvet coat , trimmed with silver lace , was fastened with little silver hasps ; white satin breeches led downwards to violet silk stockings with silver clocks , girt below the knee with silver garters .