noon
-- and on no account to call for beer or porter , to which plebeian beverages , indeed , he might consider himself as having bid a long and last adieu ; -- to say occasionally , only , `` my Lord '' and `` your Lordship , '' in addressing the earl -- and `` your Ladyship , '' in addressing Lady Cecilia ; -- and , above all , never to appear in a hurry , but to do and say whatever he had to do and say calmly ; for that the nerves of aristocracy were very delicate , and could not bear a bustle , or the slightest display of energy or feeling . Then , as to his _ dress _ -- Gammon , feeling himself treading on very doubtful ground , intimated merely that the essence of true fashion was _ simplicity _ -- but here Titmouse grew fidgety , and his Mentor ceased . During the night which ushered in the eventful day on which Titmouse dined with the Earl of Dreddlington , our friend got but very little sleep . Early in the morning he engaged a most respectable glass-coach to convey him westward in the evening , in something like style ; and before noon , his anxieties were set at rest by the punctual arrival of various articles of dress , decoration , and scent -- for Titmouse had a great idea of scents . As for his new watch and its brilliant gold guard-chain -- ambitious reader ! you should have seen them ! About half-past four o'clock Titmouse retired to his bedroom , and resigned himself into the hands of Mr. Twirl , the tip-top hairdresser from the Strand , whose agreeable manipulations , and still more agreeable small-talk , occupied upwards of an hour ; Titmouse , from time to time , giving the anxious operator abundant notice of the high quarter in which his handiwork was likely soon to be scrutinized .