eight o'clock in the evening
With a sudden spring , for which Fanny was not prepared , Hester loosened her hand from Fanny 's arm . The next minute she had caught Sylvia 's hand , and the two were speeding away in the direction of the lower garden and the fascinating company of old Birchall . Fanny could have stamped her foot with rage . The Specialities always met at eight o'clock in the evening . They were expected to wear their pretty evening-dress , and look as much like grown-up young ladies as possible . In a great house like Haddo Court there must be all sorts of rooms , some much bigger than others . Thus , where every room was nice and comfortable , there were a few quite charming .