five o’clock
She brought the shining sun with her , and when he set , he left them with the promise of a splendid to-morrow -- a promise amply redeemed when the next day dawned . Indeed , the sunshine was so brilliant , the garden so gay and sweet , the lawn so green and firm , the avenues so shady and full of wandering songs , that it was resolved to hold the preliminary reception out of doors . Ethel and Ruth were to receive on the lawn , and at the open hall door the Squire would wait to welcome his guests . Soon after five o'clock there was a brilliant crowd wandering and resting in the pleasant spaces ; and Ethel , wearing a diaphanously white robe and carrying a rush basket full of white carnations , was moving among them distributing the flowers . She was thus the center of a little laughing , bantering group when the Nicholas Rawdon party arrived . Nicholas remained with the Squire , Mrs. Rawdon and the young men went toward Ethel . Mrs. Rawdon made a very handsome appearance -- `` an aristocratic Britannia in white liberty silk and old lace , '' whispered Ruth , and Ethel looked up quickly , to meet her merry eyes full of some unexplained triumph .