Cranford

“Our friends have sent to inquire how you are after your journey to-night, my dear” (fifteen miles in a gentleman’s carriage); “they will give you some rest to-morrow, but the next day, I have no doubt, they will call; so be at liberty after twelve— from twelve to three are our calling hours.” Then, after they had called— “It is the third day; I dare say your mamma has told you, my dear, never to let more than three days elapse between receiving a call and returning it; and also, that you are never to stay longer than a quarter of an hour.” “But am I to look at my watch? How am I to find out when a quarter of an hour has passed?” “You must keep thinking about the time, my dear, and not allow yourself to forget it in conversation.” As everybody had this rule in their minds, whether they received or paid a call, of course no absorbing subject was ever spoken about. We kept ourselves to short sentences of small talk, and were punctual to our time.