six o'clock
There was a great deal of talk after the close of the session about the invitation and the proposed meeting , and some curiosity was expressed as to the `` important thing '' Miss Eunice was to talk about . One or two of the girls said they were sorry they had accepted the invitation ; they did n't like `` to have religion poked at them '' ; they guessed they would n't go . Before the appointed day , however , curiosity got the better of these fainthearted ones , and not a girl of Etta 's class was wanting when the time arrived . At exactly six o'clock some twenty young girls of various ages assembled at `` the great house , '' as Mr. Mountjoy 's grand mansion was called in the village . They could not come earlier , as most of them worked in the mill , which they could not leave till five or half-past five ; consequently they all arrived at about the same time . They were received with perfect politeness by the servant , who opened the door and ushered them , as she would have done any other visitors , into the spare-room , prettily furnished in blue and white satin , with white lace hangings and silver ornaments . Here they laid aside their hats , and taking their little work-baskets , descended to the great drawing-room , whose splendors considerably surprised the younger girls ; the older ones were used to it .