midnight
She was only moderately fond of those inconsequent pleasures which make the life social . She was a good dancer , but a more excellent talker , and she preferred talking to dancing ; but the inanity of what are known as stair talks at dances oppressed her ; nor did she look forward with any degree of pleasure to what we might term conservatory confidences , which in these luxurious days have become so large a factor in terpsichorean diversions , for Marguerite was of a practical nature . She had once chilled the heart of a young poet by calling Venice malarious -LRB- Harley little realized when he wrote this how he would have suffered had he carried out his original intention and transplanted Marguerite to the City of the Sea ! -RRB- , and a conservatory to her was a thing for mid-day , and not for midnight . She was therefore not particularly anxious to spend an evening -- which began at an aggravatingly late hour instead of at a reasonable time , thanks to a social custom which has its foundation in nothing short of absolute insanity -- in the pursuit of nothing of greater value than dancing , stair talks , and conservatory confidences ; but Mrs. Willard soon persuaded her that she ought to go , and go she did . It was a beautiful night , that of the 22 _ d _ of July . Newport was at her best .