four o'clock
Her stepfather 's allowance of pocket-money was certainly not ample , and she knew that at the party which was to be so specially distinguished she must give , if she wished to keep up her prestige in the school , a lion 's share towards the expenses . There was a quaint little brooch in one of her boxes containing one large ruby and set with diamonds which she intended to sell in order to provide herself with funds . But what use would any of her treasures be if they were consigned to the safe at Aylmer House ? After a great deal of consultation , it was resolved that the girls were to meet in their own special sitting-room at four o'clock , where tea and light refreshments were to be provided by Queen Maggie and her subjects . Afterwards they were to play games , have recitations , and amuse themselves in different ways until five o'clock ; when a curtain which would be put across a portion of the room would be raised , and tableaux vivants , in which Maggie , Kathleen , and both the Tristram girls , who were all adaptable for this purpose , were to take special parts . The tableaux were under the management of Janet Burns , who was exceedingly clever , and had studied the scenes -- which she took from different episodes in Scott 's novels -- with great care . The rehearsing for the tableaux was a little difficult , but this was done each evening after tea , when Maggie and her subjects had the sitting-room to themselves .