six o'clock
Sally May was discovered to have a talent for decorating , so she and Jack and Tim hung evergreens and holly and placed ferns and flowers where they would show to the best advantage , while Nancy and Judith whisked about with dusters and brushes . `` Music in the living-room , dancing in the drawing-room and hall , and cards upstairs in Mother 's sitting-room , '' said Nancy as they set the small tables . `` That 's what we always have , and then everybody dances a Sir Roger de Coverly -- you should see Uncle Phil and Aunt Maria dancing -- and afterwards we have supper . '' They had a picnic tea at six o'clock in the sitting-room as the maids were arranging the supper-table in the dining-room , and then came the fun of dressing . Judith had kept her new silver frock as a great surprise , and now it was thrilling to burst into Nancy 's room in all her new finery . Nancy and Sally May said it was `` perfectly sweet , '' and even Jack , `` who never notices '' -LRB- according to Nancy -RRB- , looked and whistled his admiration as Judith came downstairs , her eyes shining , her cheeks glowing with excitement , and her pretty frock swishing about her in a highly gratifying manner . Guests were arriving at an unfashionably early hour , since it was largely a family party , and Judith was introduced to a bewildering number of cousins and cousins ' cousins and aunts and uncles .