seven o'clock
`` Funny thing me wearin ' a top ` at , '' Bindle had remarked , as he lifted it for about the twentieth time , this time to a policeman , who stared hard at him . Bindle was in a mood to be extremely pleasant with everybody , and he raised his hat impartially to those he knew and those he did not know . The Bindles were late . The invitation had been for seven o'clock , and it was fully half-past seven when they arrived . They were admitted by the maid-of-all-work , resplendent in a befrilled cap and apron . Bindle winked at her , the girl giggled , and Mrs. Bindle glared . When Mr. and Mrs. Bindle were announced , a hush fell upon the fifteen or twenty guests who sat in rigid attitudes round the Heartys ' drawing-room .