six o'clock
It would give her such intense pleasure to have the darling child make her official _ début _ under her , Henrietta 's , auspices . The hours would of necessity be early , to avoid disturbance of the non-dancing residents in the hotel . But , if the entertainment were bound to end at midnight , it could begin at a proportionately unfashionable hour . For once _ table d'hôte _ might surely be timed for six o'clock ; and the dining-room -- since it offered larger space than any other apartment -- be cleared , aired , and ready for dancing by a quarter-past eight . -- Henrietta unquestionably had a way with her ; proprietors , managers , servants alike hastening obedient to her cajoling nod . -- Thanks to importations by road and rail , from other coast resorts , she reckoned to muster sixteen to twenty couples . -- A rubbishing apology at best , in the matter of a `` coming out '' ball , for a girl of Damaris ' position and deserts -- no one could know that better than she , Henrietta , herself did !