seven o'clock
And very prettily he did slide , and very much did Elizabeth wish to slide with him ; for she was indeed a merry little girl , besides being always desirous of doing every thing which she saw her brother Frederick engaged in . But mamma thought it not a very fit amusement for little girls ; so Elizabeth joined Harriet and the Miss Wexfords in a run round the park , all of them occasionally returning to the ice , to see how the skaters and sliders went on . The hour of dinner was a very early one on this day , for the evening party was to be an early one . The young people , with their papas and mammas began to assemble at a very unfashionable hour , as early indeed as seven o'clock , and by eight they were all dancing away very merrily . Dancing was kept up with great spirit till towards eleven , when there was a summons to supper . Another hour was spent in taking refreshments , and during this time there was much merriment , and many jokes passing round , as well amongst the elder part of the assembly , as in that with which we are more particularly interested . Soon after twelve the party began to separate ; -- all had appeared to be very well satisfied with the pleasure they had been enjoying ; -- every one seemed in high good-humour and glee ; and all the young visitors , as well as the four Mortimers , joined in acknowledging that the dance had gone off very well indeed ; and in pronouncing that certainly ` Christmas was a very happy time . '