nine o'clock
She did not put the white rose in her belt , but carried it . The Square was heaving with a jostling , goodnatured , happy , and constantly increasing crowd that overflowed on Main Street in both directions ; and the good nature of this crowd was augmented in the ratio that its size increased . The streets were a confusion of many colors , and eager faces filled every window opening on Main Street or the Square . Since nine o'clock all those of the courthouse had been occupied , and here most of the damsels congregated to enjoy the spectacle of the parade , and their swains attended , gallantly posting themselves at coignes of less vantage behind the ladies . Some of the faces that peeped from the dark , old court-house windows were pretty , and some of them were not pretty ; but nearly all of them were rosy-cheeked , and all were pleasant to see because of the good cheer they showed . Some of the gallants affected the airy and easy , entertaining the company with badinage and repartee ; some were openly bashful . Now and then one of the latter , after long deliberation , constructed a laborious compliment for his inamorata , and , after advancing and propounding half of it , again retired into himself , smit with a blissful palsy .