ten o'clock
`` It will be a good investment for her . '' Before Mr. Westlake had any time to reply to this , the grays , having just passed the summit of the hill , leaped forward in obedience to another swish of Sam 's whip . The trio from Meadow Brook , on their way to Sunset Rock galloped up to the Hollis Creek porch , and , finding Miss Stevens there , gaily demanded that she accompany them . `` I 'm sorry , '' said Miss Stevens , who was already in driving costume , `` but I have an engagement at ten o'clock , '' and she looked back through the window into the office , where the clock then stood at two minutes of the appointed time ; then she looked rather impatiently down the driveway , as she had been doing for the past five minutes . `` Well , at least you 'll come back to the bar with us and have an ice-cream cocktail , '' insisted Princeman , reining up close to the porch and putting his hand upon the rail in front of her . `` I do n't see how I can refuse that , '' said Miss Stevens with a smile and another glance down at the driveway , `` although it 's really a little early in the day to begin drinking , '' and she waited for them to dismount , going back with them into the little ice-cream parlor and `` soft drink '' and confectionery dispensary which had been facetiously dubbed `` the bar . '' Here she was careful to secure a seat where she could look out of the window down toward the road , and also see the clock .