nearly nine o'clock
Tristan and Isolde were in the middle of their passionate symphony of flesh and spirit , when Tekla was ushered to the regular Calcraft seats in the opera house . Her husband , who had been in the city all day , returned to the house late for dinner , through which meal he dozed . He then fell asleep on a couch . After dressing and waiting wearily until nearly nine o'clock she had a carriage called and went to the opera alone ; not forgetting , however , to bid Magda leave a case of imported beer where Mr. Calcraft could find it when he awoke ... . Rather flustered , she watched the stage with anxious eyes . Brangaene -- an ugly , large person in a terra-cotta cheese-cloth peplum -- had already warned the desperate pair beneath the trees that dawn and danger were at hand . But the lovers sang of death and love , and love and death ; and their sweet , despairing imagery floated on the oily waves of orchestral passion .