four o'clock in the afternoon
The usual evening drive with Laura was foregone for this occasion . Jadwin had stayed very late at his office , and from there was to come direct to the Dearborns . Besides that , Nip -- the trotters were named Nip and Tuck -- was lame . As early as four o'clock in the afternoon Laura , suddenly moved by an unreasoning caprice , began to prepare an elaborate toilet . Not since the opera night had she given so much attention to her appearance . She sent out for an extraordinary quantity of flowers ; flowers for the table , flowers for Page and Aunt Wess ' , great `` American beauties '' for her corsage , and a huge bunch of violets for the bowl in the library . She insisted that Page should wear her smartest frock , and Mrs. Wessels her grenadine of great occasions .