eight o'clock
Privately she could not see why she should not wear it still , but she knew that she would not dare face Paulina Maria when attired in it . Elmira , after much discussion with her mother , had decided upon refurbishing this old white muslin , and wearing that instead of her new green silk to the party . `` It will look more airy for an evenin ' company , '' said Mrs. Edwards , `` an ' the skirt is so full you can take out some of the breadths an ' make ruffles . '' Elmira and her mother had toiled hard to make those ruffles and finish their daily stent on shoes , but the dress was in readiness and Elmira arrayed in it before eight o'clock on Thursday night . Her dress had a fan waist cut low , with short puffs for sleeves . Her neck , displaying , as it did , soft hollows rather than curves , and her arms , delicately angular at wrists and elbows , were still beautiful . She was thin , but her bones were so small that little flesh was required to conceal harsh outlines .