five o'clock
Waists , long , longer , longest , succeeded ; sleeves , full , fuller , fullest , followed ; belts were discarded , boddices -LCB- sic -RCB- began to appear ; still Miss Patsey 's silk kept up with the changes , or rather , did not entirely lose sight of them . If you had seen her at a little tea-party at Wyllys-Roof , wearing this silk , `` nearly as good as new , '' with a neat and pretty collar of Elinor 's work , you would have been obliged to confess that her dress answered a rule given by a celebrated philosopher -- you would not have remarked it . Had you chanced to meet her of a Sunday , in Mr. Wyllys 's carriage -- the Wyllyses always stopped on their way to St. John 's Church , at Longbridge , to offer a couple of seats to the Hubbards , who were set down at the door of their father 's old Meeting-house -- had you seen her of a Sunday , with a neat straw hat , and the black silk gown , you would have been obliged to acknowledge that her dress had the double merit , by no means common , of according with her circumstances , and the sacred duties she was going to fulfil ; the devotion of her neighbours would not be disturbed by admiration of her toilette . -LCB- `` burn some coffee '' = roast some coffee ; `` gig-oh '' = a puffed `` gigot '' or `` leg of mutton '' sleeve ; `` pal-reen '' = `` pelerine '' , a cape or mantle ; `` gro de nap '' = `` gros de Naples '' , a weave of silk with a corded effect -LRB- French -RRB- -RCB- At five o'clock , Miss Patsey 's company began to assemble ; the Wyllyses were the first to appear ; then came Mrs. Taylor , Mrs. Van Horne , and Mrs. Clapp ; Adeline excused herself , she thought it a bore , Charlie was not worth flirting with . The doctor , Mr. Taylor , and Mr. Clapp , were expected after tea . And a pleasant , good-natured evening it proved to be . Miss Patsey 's coffee was excellent ; the little black girl , engaged for the occasion , performed her duties to admiration .