morning, noon
It was settled that she should stay at Brentwood to help in the preparations for it , and her grandfather left her there extremely contented . Cards of invitation were sent out indiscriminately to blue and orange people of quality ; carpenters and decorators came on the scene , and were busy for a week in a large empty room , converting it and making it beautiful . The officers of the cavalry regiment stationed at Norminster were asked , and offered the services of their band . Miss Jocund and her rivals were busy morning , noon , and night in the construction of aërial dresses , and all the young ladies who were bidden to the dance fell into great enthusiasm when it was currently reported that the new member , who was so handsome and so wonderfully clever , was almost , if not quite , engaged to be married to that pretty , nice Miss Fairfax , with whom they were all beginning to be more or less acquainted . Mr. Fairfax did not return to Brentwood until the day of the dance . Lady Angleby was anxious that it should be the occasion of bringing her nephew 's courtship to a climax , and she gave reasons for the expediency of having the whole affair carried through to a conclusion without unnecessary delays . Sir Edward Lucas had been intrusive this last week , and Miss Fairfax too good-natured in listening to his tedious talk of colliers , cottagers , and spade husbandry .