six
o'clock
`` Her papa will receive me ; why did she not say Evelyn ? '' Marguerite was sensitive on the subject of Mr. Lawson 's reception , and she had a modest intuition of her friend 's feelings , and , as is too often the case in trying to smooth matters , only made a greater blunder . `` Why did I not let well alone , '' exclaimed the girl , as she stood on the broad stone steps leading to the elegant home . It was six o'clock and the first bell gave the warning that there was barely time to dress for dinner . `` He will be here without fail , for I know his word is inviolable , '' cried the girl , as she hastily re-arranged some lace on the sleeves of her pretty dinner dress -- a combination of silk and velvet in shade of ash of roses . `` Dear me , there is the bell , and my hair not presentable . '' But Marguerite was mistaken .