eleven o'clock
She had chosen the first Saturday in May for her party , and she had gained her mother 's somewhat reluctant consent to extend her invitations to include Mrs. Dwight , Mrs. Lang , and Mrs. Hapgood , as well as the other girls and Alan , who had been the usual guests . It proved to be one of the warm , heavy days which come in the early part of May , a day that is delightful to those who can be absolutely idle , but which is singularly oppressive to the unfortunate majority who have duties to which they must attend . Though the dinner hour was not until six o'clock , Polly was up betimes , and went rushing about the house and slamming doors , with a profound disregard of Aunt Jane 's morning nap . By eleven o'clock the house was in festal array , and the most delicate of lemon puddings was cooling on the ice . Nothing more could be done for hours ; but Polly resisted all her mother 's efforts to induce her to rest , and roamed excitedly up and down the rooms , now and again pausing to flick a few grains of dust from the mantel , or to rearrange one of the graceful bunches of flowers that decorated the house . `` Now , Polly , '' said Aunt Jane , at length , with an encouraging trust in human nature ; `` you 'll be utterly tired out to-morrow , and you know that always makes you cross . I really think you 'd better go and lie down , or else sit down quietly and read . ''