three minutes
before nine o'clock
So with David and Leonora , it was a hard matter , after all , to decide on the invitation list . Miss Sterling , however , was a wonderful assistant . Polly was sure she could never have disposed things so happily if it had not been for her wise Miss Nita . The morning was as clear and balmy as a festival day should be , and the cars were at the door of the June Holiday Home at three minutes before nine o'clock . `` Let 's go early , '' Juanita Sterling had said , `` while the day is fresh from the hand of God . '' And in accordance with her wish Polly had appointed the hour . Most of the ladies were in Sunday attire , their wardrobes holding few changes between `` everyday '' and `` best . ''