eight o'clock
And Eddie trotted off with his load . You 'd ought to seen the way the hack sagged down on Ben 's side . And I felt that I had done a good work , so I hurried home to get a bite to eat and dress and make the party , which I still felt would be a good party even if the husband of our hostess was among the killed or missing . `` I reached the clubhouse at eight o'clock of that beautiful June evening , to find the party already well assembled on the piazza and the front steps or strolling about the lawn , about eight or ten of our prominent society matrons and near as many husbands . And mebbe those dames had n't lingered before their mirrors for final touches ! Mrs. Martingale had on all her rings and the jade bracelet and the art-craft necklace with amethysts , and Mrs. Judge Ballard had done her hair a new way , and Beryl Mae Macomber , there with her aunt , not only had a new scarf with silver stars over her frail young shoulders and a band of cherry coloured velvet across her forehead , but she was wearing the first ankle watch ever seen in Red Gap . I could n't begin to tell you the fussy improvements them ladies had made in themselves -- and all , mind you , for the passing child of Nature who had never paid a bill for 'em in his life .