three o'clock
Babies twisted and climbed on the laps of their radiant mothers , small girls and boys everywhere were restless with excitement and anticipation . Miss Toland only appeared at intervals , spending most of the afternoon with a few chosen guests in the reception hall , but Julia was everywhere at once . She wore a plain white linen gown , with a bit of holly in her hair and on her breast , and whether she was marshalling small girls into groups , stopping to admire a new baby , meeting the confectioner 's men and their immense freezers at the draughty side door , talking shyly with the directors in Miss Toland 's room , or consoling some weeping infant in the hall , she was followed by admiring eyes . At three o'clock the general restlessness visibly increased , and the air in the hall , between steaming wet garments and perspiring humanity , became almost insufferable . Julia experimentally opened a door and let in a wet blast of air , but this was too drastic , and her eyes were brought back from a wistful study of the high windows by a voice that said : `` Merry Christmas ! Give me a stick , and I 'll do it for you ! '' The girl found her hand in Doctor Studdiford 's , and their eyes met .