eight o'clock
Miss Towne was the only daughter of one of the old New England families of Lake City . Teaching was an avocation with her and not a bread and butter necessity . She lived in one of the fine old stone houses that crowned the lake shore near the college . At eight o'clock on a Saturday evening , Amos left Lydia at the front door of the house , and in a few minutes Lydia was taking off her hat and coat in the midst of a chattering group of girls . The pink organdy was there as well as the red silk , -- so were blue organdies and white , as well as dainty slippers . After a general `` Hello , '' Lydia slipped downstairs to find her hostess . Miss Towne , the grouchy , the strict and the stern Miss Towne , moving among her guests , saw the thin little figure hesitating in the doorway , saw the cobbled red dress , with skirt that was too short and sleeves that were too long and neck that was too tight , saw the carefully blacked school shoes , saw the intelligent high bred head nobly set on straight shoulders and the wonderful dusty gold of the curly hair , and the puzzled , bashful blue eyes .