four o'clock
It was decided to hold the first picnic of the season , bicycling to a favourite spot in the woods , where primroses and bluebells were luxuriant , and to invite Mrs Maitland and Miss Phelps to drive up in a pony cart stored with provisions for an out-of-door tea . Everything was arranged -- cakes were baked , sandwiches cut , cream and milk corked up in bottles , and a basket packed with every requisite -- when , `` of course , '' as Elsie had it , the rain descended in sheets , and the project was frustrated . The usual scene of grumbling and ejaculating followed , before the girls could resign themselves to their fate . To settle down to practise and study seemed unbearably dreary after looking forward to such a charming excursion ; but there was nothing else to be done , so they marched sulkily to their different occupations , and did not meet again until after four o'clock . Then the schoolroom party joined Lilias in the library , and were about to summon Nan from the attic , when Mary entered , bringing a card on a salver . Some one had been brave enough to face the elements , and pay a call in the midst of a downpour of rain . Whom could it be ?