two o'clock
Before I had time to answer , Dandy Carmichael came in view with a troop of dogs at his heels , and at sight of him I recalled an arrangement made the evening before to have a tea drinking on the lawn , and that he was bidden to luncheon to help with the cards of invitation . The rest of the day was spent with pen and ink and address books , and this jostle of circumstance put the Burns meeting out of my mind entirely , nor did I mention it to Danvers one way or another , which turned out to be a more unfortunate occurrence than I can tell . On the day set for the festivity Danvers came early , with the Arran grooms behind him carrying flowers from the conservatories for the decoration of the great hall , and all of the morning the house was filled with gay young voices and merry preparations for the entertainment of friends . Stands of scarlet droopers were set on the porch , the hot-house flowers being placed against the tapestry and the old armor ; bowls of drink were brewed and set to cool , and two o'clock found Dame Dickenson in sober black silk , with a canny eye for the refreshments , and myself in black as well , and a state of what might be described as pleasurable anxiety . Dandy 's last words to Nancy before leaving to bring the Erskines back with him were these : `` You are to look your very best ; I desire the Hon. Mrs. Erskine struck mute with admiration , '' and when she came down the stairs I could but think that she had taken his counsel to heart , whether because she was to meet `` her rival , '' as she laughingly called Isabel Erskine , or by reason of the expected presence of his Grace of Borthwicke , I was far from deciding . She wore a huge black hat and a black lace gown , with a kerchief tied in front and falling near to the ground . Her gloves were black as well , coming almost to the shoulder , her only touch of color being a cluster of roses in the knot of lace upon her bosom .