eight o'clock
`` I was surprised when you said you kept a store , -- you did not look like it ; but if this is the way you live -- '' Miss Martin did not finish her sentence as she allowed Norah to take her hat . That everything about the small domain impressed her , it was easy to see . The simple dinner served so deftly by Susanna , the appointments of the table , and by no means least , her two hostesses . Before eight o'clock the basket makers arrived , with them Madelaine , who made a pretty pretence of being deeply grateful to Miss Pennington for allowing her to come . Miss Martin watched her with serious admiration in her eyes . Here was a girl little younger than herself , whose whole business in life was to be beautiful and engaging . `` I have brought my prettiest valentine to show you , '' Madelaine said .