nearly one o'clock
For herself , Matty took possession of the dining - room , as soon as she could clear it of the breakfast equipage , of the children and of the servants , and here , with pen and ink , with wrapping-paper and twine , with telegraph blanks and with the directory , and with Venty as her Ariel messenger -- not so airy and quick as Ariel , but quite as willing -- Matty worked her wonders , and gave her audiences , whether to vassals from without or puzzled children from within . Venty was short for Ventidius . But this name , given in baptism , was one which Venty seldom heard . Matty corded up this parcel , and made Venty cord up that ; wrote this note of compliment , that of inquiry , that of congratulation , and sent Venty on this , that , and another errand with them ; relieved Flossy 's anxieties and poor Laura 's in ways which have been described ; made sure that the wagon should be at the station in ample time for Beverly 's arrival ; and at last , at nearly one o'clock , called Aunty Chloe -LRB- who was in waiting on everybody as a superserviceable person , on the pretence that she was needed -RRB- , bade Aunty pick up the scraps , sweep the floor , and bring the room to rights . And so , having attended to everybody beside herself , to all their wishes and hopes and fears , poor Matty -- or shall I say , dear Matty -- ran off to her own room , to finish her own presents and make her own last preparations . She had kept up her spirits as best she could all the morning , but , at any moment when she was alone , her spirits had fallen again . She knew it , and she knew why .