nearly eight o'clock
She took great pains to make the holiday dinner unusually festive , decorated the table , and put on her prettiest evening gown . There were very few boarders left in the house on this day , and the group that gathered about the big turkey was like one large family . Billy carved , and Susan with two paper candle-shades pinned above her ears , like enormous rosettes , was more like her old silly merry self than these people who loved her had seen her for years . It was nearly eight o'clock when Mrs. Lancaster , pushing back an untasted piece of mince pie , turned to Susan a strangely flushed and swollen face , and said thickly : `` Air -- I think I must -- air ! '' She went out of the dining-room , and they heard her open the street door , in the hall . A moment later Virginia said `` Mama ! '' in so sharp a tone that the others were instantly silenced , and vaguely alarmed .