Eight o'clock sharp
Of course they did , and they all trooped into the nursery to admire the tiny mite of humanity , who looked a picture , with her tumbled curls and her laughing face , just ready for bed . She remembered Patty and Mona , and greeted them without shyness , clinging to Patty 's neck and begging her to stay and sing her to sleep . This Patty would have done , but Adèle would n't allow it , and ordered the girls back to their rooms to dress for dinner . `` Eight o'clock sharp , '' she warned them , `` and do n't put on your prettiest gowns ; save those for to-morrow night . '' Patty wandered around her room , singing softly , as she dressed . Looking over her dinner gowns , she decided upon her second best , a white marquisette with a garniture of pearl beads and knots of pale blue velvet . When the maid came to assist her she was nearly dressed , and ten minutes before the dinner hour she was quite ready to go downstairs .