six o'clock
But after half an hour -- Favorita was nearly that late -- she had given up waiting and telephoned Zoya Olisco suggesting that they two spend the day at Tivoli . Zoya agreed , and Nina was on her way to fetch her when she passed Giovanni and Favorita . But she neither saw the former nor recognized the latter . It was after six o'clock when Nina returned from Tivoli , and she had to hurry to dress for an early dinner , as it was the Sanseveros ' regular Lenten evening at home . Nina particularly liked these informal receptions , where the company was composed , for the most part , of really interesting , agreeable people . There was always music , generally by amateur performers ; occasionally there was some other form of impromptu entertainment , an impersonation or a recitation . Throughout the evening there was the simplest sort of buffet supper : tea , bouillon -- a claret cup , perhaps , and possibly chocolate , little cakes , and sandwiches ; never more .