About two o'clock
The little Harts were kept busy all morning returning chairs and dishes , and distributing the remnants of the feast to the vicinity . The ice-cream had melted into a warm custard , and the cakes had a rather worse for wear appearance , but they were appreciated as much as though just from the confectioner . No one was forgotten , even Mrs. Tuckley , busily stitching on a muslin garment on the steps , and unctuously rolling the latest morsel of scandal under her tongue , was obliged to confess that `` them Hartses was n't such bad people after all , just a bit queer at times . '' About two o'clock , just as Lillian was re-draping the tidies on the stiff , common plush chairs in the parlor , some one pulled the bell violently . The visitor , a rather good-looking young fellow , with a worried expression smiled somewhat sarcastically as he heard a sound of scuffling and running within the house . * * * * * Presently Mrs. Hart opened the door wiping her hand , red and smoking with dish-water , upon her apron . The worried expression deepened on the visitor 's face as he addressed the woman with visible embarrassment .