midday
Gillian was at the stage in which sensible maidens have a certain repugnance and contempt for the idea of love and lovers as an interruption to the higher aims of life and destruction to family joys . Romance in her eyes was the exaltation of woman out of reach , and Maura 's communications inclined her to glorify Kalliope as a heroine , molested by a very inconvenient person , ` Spighted by a fool , spighted and angered both , ' as she quoted Imogen to herself . It would be a grand history to tell Alethea of her friend , when she should have learnt a little more about it , as she intended to do on Sunday from Kalliope herself , who surely would be grateful for some sympathy and friendship . Withal she recollected that it was Indian-mail day , and hurried home to see whether the midday post had brought any letters . Her two aunts were talking eagerly , but suddenly broke off as she opened the door . ` Well , Gillian -- ' began Aunt Ada . ` No , no , let her see for herself , ' said Aunt Jane .