two o'clock
Involuntarily stretching out her hands , she cried , `` Oh , mother , Allie , I am so happy now ; '' and to the child 's imagination the stars smiled lovingly upon her , while the evening wind , as it gently moved the boughs of the tall elm trees , seemed like the rustle of angels ' wings . Who shall say the mother 's spirit was not there to rejoice with her daughter over the glad future opening so brightly before her ? The Tuesday following Mary 's arrival at Mrs. Mason 's , there was a social gathering at the house of Mr. Knight . This gathering could hardly be called a tea party , but came more directly under the head of an `` afternoon 's visit , '' for by two o'clock every guest had arrived , and the `` north room '' was filled with ladies , whose tongues , like their hands , were in full play . Leathern reticules , delicate embroidery , and gold thimbles were not then in vogue in Rice Corner ; but on the contrary , some of Mrs. Knight 's visitors brought with them large , old-fashioned work-bags , from which the ends of the polished knitting-needles were discernible ; while another apologized for the magnitude of her work , saying that `` her man had fretted about his trousers until she herself began to think it was time to finish them ; and so when she found Miss Mason was n't to be there , she had just brought them along . '' In spite of her uniform kindness , Mrs. Mason was regarded by some of her neighbors as a bugbear , and this allusion to her immediately turned the conversation in that direction . `` Now , do tell , '' said Widow Perkins , vigorously rapping her snuff-box and passing it around .