eight o'clock
Wonderland costumes were to be tabooed . `` If we present the circus again later on we do n't want to run the risk of giving any one the slightest chance to grow tired of seeing the animals , '' had been her wise edict . That night a mixed company of gay and gallant folks danced to the music of the living-room piano at Morton House . Those receiving invitations had immediately planned their costumes and by eight o'clock that evening , resplendent in their own and borrowed finery , were on their way to the ball . At ten o'clock there had been a brief intermission , when cakes and ices were served . This had been an unlooked-for courtesy on the part of Arline , who had plunged recklessly into her month 's allowance for the purchase of the little spread . The ball had lasted until half-past eleven o'clock , and the participants , after singing to Arline and rendering her a noisy vote of thanks , had gone home tired and happy .