seven o'clock
On this Christmas morning , however , Darsie was in a mood of somewhat reckless gaiety ; let the future take care of itself . For to-day , at least , she was young and happy and free ; the Vernon family was coming over in bulk to spend the evening , when the presence of one of Dan 's chums would supply an agreeable element of novelty to the occasion . Not one single gloomy thought must be allowed to cloud the sunshine of this Christmas Day ! Dinner was served at seven o'clock , and was truly a festive occasion . The dining-room table being unequal to the task of providing accommodation for sixteen people , the schoolroom table had to be used as a supplement . It was a good inch higher than the other , and supplied with a preponderance of legs , but these small drawbacks could not weigh against the magnificent effect of the combined length , covered , as it was , with fruit , flowers , and a plethora of bright red bonbons and crackers . The girls wore their prettiest evening frocks ; the turkey , the goose , the plum-pudding , and the mince-pies were all paragons of their kind , while dessert was enlivened by the discovery of small surprise presents cunningly hidden away within hollowed oranges , apples , and nuts .