about midnight
Sally was borne into the room triumphant on a `` chair '' made of her brothers ' arms to cut and distribute the `` bride 's cake . '' Then , when every one had eaten as much as was humanly possible , the piano was moved out to the great new barn , with its fine concrete floors swept and scoured as only Peter could do it , and its every stall festooned with white crepe paper by Sylvia , and the dancing began -- for this time the crowd was too great to permit it in the house , in spite of the spacious rooms . Molly and Sylvia took turns in playing , and each found several eager partners waiting for her , every time the `` shift '' occurred . Finally , about midnight , the bride went upstairs to change her dress , and the girls gathered around the banisters to be ready to catch the bouquet when she came down , laughing and teasing each other while they waited . Great shouts arose , and much joking began , when Edith -- and not Sylvia as every one had privately hoped -- caught the huge bunch of flowers and ribbon , and ran with it in her arms out on the wide piazza , all the others behind her , to be ready to pelt Sally and Fred with rice when they appeared . Thomas was to drive them to the station , and Sylvia 's motor was bedecked with white garlands and bows , slippers and bells , from one end of it to the other . At last the rush came ; and the happy victims , showered and dishevelled , waving their handkerchiefs and shouting good-bye , were whisked up the hill , and out of sight .