six in the morning
Altogether the brilliance of the company made up for the deficiencies of its barn-like setting and the ineffectiveness of Mr. Pratt , who , discomposed by the enveloping presence of Joanna , blundered more helplessly than ever , so that , as Joanna said afterwards , she was glad when it was all finished without anyone getting married besides the bride and bridegroom . After the ceremony there was a breakfast at Ansdore , with a wedding-cake and ices and champagne , and waiters hired from the George Hotel at Rye . Ellen stood at the end of the room shaking hands with a long procession of Pricketts , Vines , Furneses , Southlands , Bateses , Turners , Cobbs ... . She looked a little tired and droopy , for she had had a trying day , with Joanna fussing and fighting her ever since six in the morning ; and now she felt resentfully that her sister had snatched the splendours of the occasion from her to herself -- it did not seem right that Joanna should be the most glowing , conspicuous , triumphant object in the room , and Ellen , unable to protest , sulked languishingly . However , if the bride did not seem as proud and happy as she might , the bridegroom made up for it . There was something almost spiritual in the look of Arthur Alce 's eyes , as he stood beside Ellen , his arm held stiffly for the repose of hers , his great choker collar scraping his chin , lilies of the valley and camellias sprouting from his buttonhole , a pair of lemon kid gloves -- split at the first attempt , so he could only hold them -- clutched in his moist hand . He looked devout , exalted , as he armed his little bride and watched her sister .