THREE o'clock
`` Yes , mamma . Good-by , mamma and papa ; and do n't forget my little wife , papa . '' `` I wo n't forget , Sunshine , '' said Mr. Legrange , laughing , as he followed the child and nurse to the door , and watched them up stairs . THREE o'clock came at last , although ` Toinette had become fully persuaded it never would ; and the little guests arrived as punctually as juvenile guests are apt to arrive . Later on in life , people either expect less pleasure from meeting each other , or are more willing to defer securing it ; or perhaps it is that they are willing to allow their friends the first chance of appropriating the happiness in store for all . If none of these , what is the reason , children , that , at grown parties , the struggle is to see who shall arrive last , while at ours it is to see who shall come first ? ` Toinette was dressed , and in the drawing-room ready to receive her little friends , by half-past two ; and very nice she looked in her light-blue merino frock , with its pretty embroideries , her long golden hair curled in the feathery ringlets Susan was so proud of making , her sleeves looped up with new bracelets , and a little embroidered handkerchief just peeping out of her pockets Mrs. Legrange , who sat reading by the fire , watched with some amusement and more anxiety the movements of the little beauty , who walked slowly up and down the room , twisting her head to look now at one shoulder and now at the other , now at the flow of her skirts behind , and now at the dainty fit of her bronze cloth gaiter-boots .