three o'clock
For was n't this to help poor children who did n't have any pleasant homes , but lived in stuffy tenement houses , to go out into the broad , beautiful country , where they could race in the fields and play with the chickens , and pick all the flowers they wanted to ? And so , ever since the announcement had been made that such a fund was to be raised , there had been much hoarding of pennies , and no slight self-denial on the part of the younger element , who would naturally be drawn into the plan . All the society people were to drive up later ; and until the early evening hours it was to be the function of the town , which every one was anxious to attend . But everybody in Mr. King 's household was to be ready to receive , exactly at three o'clock . Phronsie was in the highest of spirits , having Grandpapa 's hand to cling to , trying to welcome all the guests , and keeping one eye out to see that Rachel was enjoying herself , attired in a pretty , pink cambric gown , her black hair -- which now seemed , oh , so soft and pretty ! -- tied back with little pink bows . And Rachel 's eyes -- well , there !