eight o'clock
He thought I had a true idea of hospitality ; the fires everywhere proclaimed that . Temperance had the air of a retainer ; there was an atmosphere about our premises which placed them at a distance from the present . Then Alice came to my assistance and entertained him so well that I could leave him . We had invited a few friends and relations to witness the ceremony , at eight o'clock . I had been consulted so often on various matters that it was dark before I finished my tasks . The last was to arrange some flowers I had ordered in Milford . I kept a bunch of them in reserve for Verry 's plate ; for we were to have a supper , at father 's request , who thought it would be less tiresome to feed the guests than to talk to them .