four o'clock
Rachel was as jolly as Katherine , as sympathetic as Betty , and far more mature than either of her friends . As Katherine put it , `` you could always bank on Rachel to know what was what . '' So it was no unusual thing to find two or three of the `` old guard '' as Rachel dubbed them , and perhaps two or three outsiders as well , gathered in her tiny room , in the dark of the afternoon , talking over the happenings of the day and drinking tea out of the cups which were the pride of Rachel 's heart , because they were all pretty and none of them had cost more than ten cents . One snowy afternoon in January Betty walked home with Rachel from their four o'clock class in history . `` Come in , children '' called a merry voice , as they opened Rachel 's door . `` Take off your things and make yourselves at home . The tea will be ready in about five minutes . ''