eight o'clock
It was a cozy November evening , when open fires and friendly drop-lights are in order , and the three grown-folks of the family were enjoying these luxuries . Mr. Crosby was supposed to be reading his paper , but he had a sociable way of letting fall an occasional item of interest , or of letting fall the paper itself , at the first hint of interest in the remarks of his wife and daughter . Only within a very short time had there been three grown-folks in the family , unless , indeed , we count Rollo , the Gordon setter , who had attained his majority years ago . Di , who was but just turned sixteen , really did not like to remember how very recently she had been sent to bed at eight o'clock ! Could Mr. Crosby have guessed the scheme which was occupying the active brain of the young person engaged in embroidering harmless bachelor 's buttons upon a linen centrepiece , he would have been very much astonished , -- whether pleasurably or otherwise , events alone must show . And since events had been taken in hand by Di the revelation was not likely to be long delayed . The incident which had elicited her father 's declaration of confidence was a request on Di 's part to be allowed the privilege of inviting a guest of her own choosing to the Thanksgiving dinner .