ten o'clock
A very good pink face , as far as that do go . Still , only a face , when all is said and done . '' `` Come , come , Elias Spinks , say she 's a pretty maid , and have done wi ' her , '' said the tranter , again preparing to visit the cider-barrel . Shortly after ten o'clock the singing-boys arrived at the tranter 's house , which was invariably the place of meeting , and preparations were made for the start . The older men and musicians wore thick coats , with stiff perpendicular collars , and coloured handkerchiefs wound round and round the neck till the end came to hand , over all which they just showed their ears and noses , like people looking over a wall . The remainder , stalwart ruddy men and boys , were dressed mainly in snow-white smock-frocks , embroidered upon the shoulders and breasts , in ornamental forms of hearts , diamonds , and zigzags . The cider-mug was emptied for the ninth time , the music-books were arranged , and the pieces finally decided upon .