ten o'clock
One room was quite empty , save for decorations ; the other contained only a table piled with favours . Even the chairs had been removed , leaving clear spaces along the walls . It was not such a very large party as parties go , for Mrs. Hadley-Smith had a reputation for doing her entertaining on a small but an exceedingly smart scale . All told , there were not more than fifty on hand -- and accounted for -- by ten o'clock . A good many had come in costume -- as zanies , Pantaloons , witches , Pierrots , Columbines , clowns and simples . For those who wore evening dress the hostess had provided a store of dunce caps and dominos of gay colours . Nearly everybody present already knew nearly everybody else .