four o'clock
Wednesday is the best day , because it 's half-holiday , only I should like other days better , because I should get off prep . Please wear your best clothes ! '' The two sisters laughed heartily over this missive , but Pixie 's word was law , and as usual they obeyed her instructions to the letter . A telegram was sent off next morning to announce the hour in the afternoon at which they hoped to call , and the morning was spent to such good purpose that two most elegant and fashionable-looking young ladies drove up to Holly House shortly before four o'clock . The third-form girls were , to a man , peeping through the curtains of their classroom ; Ethel had left her music in the drawing-room , and rushed downstairs to reclaim it the moment the door-bell rang ; Kate suddenly felt it impossible to live without a clean handkerchief , and on her way upstairs waited round the corner of the hall until she could meet the visitors face to face ; Flora peeped through the banisters , and snored so loudly in her excitement that she was in instant danger of discovery ; and Pixie rushed like a whirlwind from the top of the house , and flung herself into Bridgie 's arms . They hugged and kissed , and kissed and hugged again , and fell apart to gaze with eyes that suddenly brimmed with tears . No need to ask the cause !