five
o'clock
The visit which had been looked forward to with such delight was not proving successful . For themselves the Ethels did not mind occasional delays , but they knew that all such matters interfered with the smooth running of the house , and they could not help wondering that Katharine should seem to think that her hostess should rearrange the daily routine to suit her . The evening meal was to be supper and not dinner and it was to be especially early because it was to be cooked entirely by the young people . The Hancocks and the Watkinses were at the Mortons ' by five o'clock . Dr. Watkins came out , too , by special invitation , but he asked if he might be permitted to pay a visit to Elisabeth while the rest were preparing the meal , in view of the fact that he was not skilled as a cook , and felt himself to be too old to learn in one lesson . He was allowed to go with strict injunctions to be back at half past six and to bring Miss Merriam with him . The Ethels had planned beforehand what they were going to have for supper and the part that each was to take in the preparations .