six o'clock
It 's dressy , and at the same time it 's quiet , too . '' Eva , the expert , wrestling with Carrie over the problem of the new spring dress . They never guessed that the commonplace man in the frayed old smoking jacket had banished them all from the room long ago ; had banished himself , for that matter . In his place was a tall , debonair , and rather dangerously handsome man to whom six o'clock spelled evening clothes . The kind of man who can lean up against a mantel , or propose a toast , or give an order to a manservant , or whisper a gallant speech in a lady 's ear with equal ease . The shabby old house on Calumet Avenue was transformed into a brocaded and chandeliered rendezvous for the brilliance of the city . Beauty was here , and wit .