eight o'clock
Some others wo n't . '' Owing to the fact that the sun had obligingly finished his daily pilgrimage behind a flock of gray clouds that banked themselves in the west , a fairly early twilight descended . A timid new moon , that was scheduled in the almanac to rise early , also covered itself with glory by not appearing at all , thereby signally helping along Elfreda 's cause . When at eight o'clock the nine representatives of Semper Fidelis seated themselves at the tastefully decorated festal board , which occupied a position of central importance on the grassy lawn , they had no reason to complain of too much natural light . Through the dense summer darkness that had now closed in about them , softly-glowing lanterns winked their many-colored eyes . The main illumination , however , was due to two good-sized electric lights , each suspended from its own particular post at opposite sides of the grounds . These Elfreda had thoughtfully swathed in thin flowered silk , which modifying their glare , gave them the same Oriental effect as that of the lanterns .