half past five
`` That 's perfectly terrible if it 's really so , '' declared Ethel Blue , who was an especial admirer of Gertrude Merriam 's and a devout believer in her ability to turn Elisabeth from a skeleton into a robust little maiden . `` We must find out at once , '' and Ethel Brown put Elisabeth into her coat with a speed that so disregarded all orderly procedure as to bring a frown to the young Belgian 's brow . The two girls talked about the news in low , horrified tones on the way back to Dorothy 's , and down they sat , prepared not only to amuse Elisabeth but to amuse her until the return of Miss Merriam , no matter how late that proved to be . It seemed an eternity but it was only half past five when she and Mrs. Smith came back . The Ethels sat before the fire in the sitting room like judges on the bench . They made their accusation promptly . Gertrude sat down as if her knees were unable to support her .