five o'clock
By and by , when the Crofton car arrived , bearing Uncle Thomas and Aunt Olivia , with Rosalie and Chester following a few moments later in Chester 's roadster , Jeannette grew fairly radiant . It was not until late that evening that Georgiana had a chance really to learn the whole state of the case . During the intervening hours had occurred the event for which they had all been invited -- the entertaining of at least two hundred people from the surrounding country and the village . For this event , which Stuart naïvely called a `` party , '' Jeannette a `` lawn fête , '' and the guests themselves , for the most part , a `` picnic , '' porches , lawn and trees had been hung with gay lanterns , bonfires had been built , the small village band engaged , a light but delectable supper provided , and as much jollity planned as could be crowded into the hours between five o'clock and eleven . From the standpoint of those entertaining , at least , the affair had been a success , for Stuart , long accustomed to the ways of his fellow countrymen , considered himself fully able to tell from their manner , if not from their expressions of pleasure , whether they had really found enjoyment in the efforts of their hosts . `` They had a mighty good time , no doubt about it ! '' he declared , when the last reluctant guest had departed in the last small car which had waited at the edge of the roadway .