six o'clock in the
afternoon
A faithful servant of two years ' standing had gone off in a temper the week before because her mistress had announced that henceforth they should have dinner at six o'clock in the evening . Everyone on Sunset Hill had evening dinners and Annie had long felt the disgrace of their mid-day meal . But social eminence , she discovered , was dearly bought , for the faithful Bella immediately departed , declaring `` she 'd wash pots and pans for no living woman on nights when her gentleman friends was calling . '' Her successor was a leisurely young lady with an elaborate dressing of hair , who could not have got dinner a minute earlier than six o'clock in the afternoon in any case , and the Coulsons were now fashionable and uncomfortable . During the week preceding Estella 's reception , the young lady visited Elizabeth frequently to report progress . Preparations were going forward on a grand scale , and the plan to `` show the Olivers '' had expanded into `` showing Cheemaun '' what might be done in the way of an up-to-date social function . Others of Elizabeth 's old schoolmates called , but Madeline Oliver was not one of the number .