A few minutes after six o'clock
At last , however , all was ready : the tea-tray laid in the drawing-room , her own white dress donned , a bunch of roses pinned in her belt ; and there was nothing left but to wait in such patience as she could command , while Lettice and Norah looked at her slyly and exchanged glances of approval . `` Does n't she look nice ? '' they whispered ; and , indeed , Hilary was looking her best this afternoon , with the pretty flush in her cheeks , and her eyes alight with excitement . A few minutes after six o'clock the fly drove up to the door , and there sat Miss Carr , in her fashionable London bonnet , and , beside her , Mr Rayner , pale and delicate as ever , but looking around him with an air of intense delight in the beautiful surroundings . Mr Bertrand was on the front seat , and Hilary came forward to do the honours with much less assurance than she would have shown six months earlier . `` My dear , good child , have you any tea ? I am perishing of thirst ! ''