about eight o'clock
I walked down quietly an hour or so before most of the people , so as to be in the way to see if Aileen came . We 'd asked her to come on the chance of meeting us there , but we had n't got any word , and did n't know whether she could manage it nor whether George would bring her . I had a sort of half-and-half notion that perhaps Gracey might come , but I did n't like to think of it for fear of being disappointed , and tried to make believe I did n't expect her . I gave in my ticket and walked in about eight o'clock , and sat down pretty close to the door so that I could see the people as they came in . I did n't feel much up to dancing myself , but I 'd have ridden a thousand miles to have had the chance of seeing those two girls that night . I waited and waited while one after another came in , till the big hall was pretty near filled , and at nine o'clock or so the music struck up , and the first dance began . That left the seats pretty bare , and between listening to the music and looking at the people , and thinking I was back again at the old claim and passing half-an-hour at a dance-house , I did n't mind the door so much till I heard somebody give a sort of sigh not very far off , and I looked towards the door and saw two women sitting between me and it .