midday
The next day , instead of black pearls , she strung white pearls and bits of false coral ; for at Mademoiselle Le Mire 's they worked only in what was false , in tinsel , and that was where little Chebe was to serve her apprenticeship to life . For some time the new apprentice-being younger and better bred than the others -- found that they held aloof from her . Later , as she grew older , she was admitted to their friendship and their confidence , but without ever sharing their pleasures . She was too proud to go to see weddings at midday ; and when she heard them talking of a ball at Vauxhall or the ` Delices du Marais , ' or of a nice little supper at Bonvalet 's or at the ` Quatre Sergents de la Rochelle , ' she was always very disdainful . We looked higher than that , did we not , little Chebe ? Moreover , her father called for her every evening . Sometimes , however , about the New Year , she was obliged to work late with the others , in order to complete pressing orders .