six o'clock
`` Dinah makes a sort of posset first , of oaten-meal , and then she puts in coriander seeds , and raisins , all carefully stoned -LRB- I ought to know that , for I helped her one mortal hour last night and got my fingers sticky with the plagued stones -RRB- , and some cloves in a muslin bag , which are let lie till the caudle boils , and then removed , and last of all , just as it 's ready to serve , she pops in a good half bottle of cognac -- my ! but it 's prime ! '' and Peter cut a pigeon-wing and gave a regular Mohawk war-whoop , as he danced around the kitchen and disappeared through the door just in time to avoid Dinah 's wet dishcloth , which she sent spinning at his close-cropped pate . Betty stood in her small chamber at six o'clock that evening , contemplating her gown with critical eye . Parties in those days were early affairs , and in New York were known to assemble as early as half past seven . The lanterns which hung outside every seventh house for the purpose of lighting the streets were lit by the watchmen at half past six , for the winter days were short , and the denizens of Wall Street were wont to pick their way most carefully since the great fire , the débris of which in many instances was still left to disfigure the sites where had stood stately mansions . Betty deliberated for some minutes ; here were two gowns : one must be worn to-night for her dear Clarissa ; the other kept for the De Lancey ball , an event over which all fashionable New York was agog , and which would take place on New Year 's night , just one week ahead .