seven o'clock in the evening
Louise had always such a vast deal to do at home ; Sara lived only for her harp and her singing ; Leonore was not strong enough ; and for Gabriele , it was generally either too cold , or too dirty , or too windy , or she was not in the humour to walk . Eva , on the contrary , was always in the humour , and Petrea had always the desire to speed away . It was Henrik 's greatest pleasure to give one of his sisters his arm , especially when they were well and handsomely dressed . At seven o'clock in the evening all the members of the family assembled themselves in the library , where the tea-table was prepared , at which Louise presided . The evenings were uncommonly cheerful , particularly when the family were alone . Between tea and supper they either talked , or read aloud , or had music ; after supper they mostly danced , and then Louise exercised herself with remarkable grace . Sometimes they had charades or social games .