midnight
Some of the visitors bore imposing titles , which made Rosalie very nervous and caused her hastily to array herself to receive them in toilettes much too pretty and delicate for the occasion . Her innocent idea was that she must do her husband credit by appearing as `` stylish '' as possible . As a result she was stared at , either with open disfavour , or with well-bred , furtive criticism , and was described afterwards as being either `` very American '' or `` very over-dressed . '' When she had lived in huge rooms in Fifth Avenue , Rosalie had changed her attire as many times a day as she had changed her fancy ; every hour had been filled with engagements and amusements ; the Vanderpoel carriages had driven up to the door and driven away again and again through the mornings and afternoons and until midnight and later . Someone was always going out or coming in . There had been in the big handsome house not much more of an air of repose than one might expect to find at a railway station ; but the flurry , the coming and going , the calling and chatting had all been cheery , amiable . At Stornham , Rosalie sat at breakfast before unchanging boiled eggs , unfailing toast and unalterable broiled bacon , morning after morning .