noon before
The girls had arranged their flowers according to Mrs. Smith 's and Mrs. Emerson 's ideas , not crowding them but showing each to its best advantage and selecting for each a vase that suited its form and coloring . Their supplies were kept out of sight in order not to mar the effect . The tables of the tea rooms were decorated with pink on this opening day , both because they thought that some of the guests might see some connection between pink and the purpose of the sale , helping _ Rose House _ -- and for the practical reason that they had more pink blossoms than any other color , thanks to their love of that gay hue . It was noon before any people outside of the resident guests of the Inn stopped at the house . Then a party of people evidently from a distance , for they were covered with dust , ordered luncheon . While the women were arranging their hair in the dressing room the men came over to the flower table and asked countless questions . `` Here , Gerald , '' one called to another , `` these young women have just begun this business to-day and they have n't had a customer yet .