six o’clock
But it did not matter , for they all said the same things . `` Elegant house for a party , so full of -- '' `` How perfectly lovely Amanda Wilson looks in that -- '' `` Awfully warm day ! Were you at the Tompkins ' last -- '' `` Wilson 's Emporium must be doing good business to keep up all this -- '' `` Hear he 's going to enlarge the store and take Luke Woods into the -- '' `` Should n't wonder if there might be a wedding here before next -- '' The tide of chatter rose and swelled and ebbed and suddenly sank away . At six o'clock , the minister and two maiden ladies in black silk with lilac ribbons , laid down their last plates of ice-cream and said they thought they must be going . Amanda and her mother preened their dresses and patted their hair . `` Come into the study , '' said Mr. Wilson to Luke . `` I want to have a talk with you . ''