six o'clock
`` The name 's familiar , that is all , '' she replied . Christmas Day was gloomy as to weather , but that was a small matter with so much merriment going on indoors . After the excitement of examining stockings was over the party was the event of the day , and was looked forward to with eager anticipation by the children . It was to be an early party , the guests having been invited to come at six o'clock . Gladys was the first to arrive , and the three little girls sat on the big hall sofa and waited for the others to come . The shop was brilliantly lighted and looked quite unfamiliar with all the show-cases moved back against the wall , and its trimmings of cedar and holly . In the centre of the room on a table was the secret which had so excited Emma and Frances .