about half past five
`` I had to invite them for you ; but I thought you 'd like to have such interesting company . It was this way '' -- `` Stop your explainin ' , and tell me first when they 'll be here . Right away ? '' `` No , not for two hours -- about half past five . '' `` Then you can explain , if you can , who gave you any authority to invite a passel of strangers to stop here over night , when you know we ai n't had any company for twenty years , and do n't intend to have any for another twenty , -- or at any rate while I 'm the head of the house . '' `` Do n't blame her , Miranda , till you 've heard her story , '' said Jane . `` It was in my mind right along , if we went to the meeting , some such thing might happen , on account of Mr. Burch knowing father . ''