three o'clock
Mrs. Miller , having consented to the engagement , like a sensible woman , was resolved to make the best of it , and was , if not cordial , at least pleasantly civil to her future son-in-law . She had given over Beatrice as a bad job ; she had resolved to find suitable matches for Guy and for Geraldine . By one o'clock the company was actually beginning to arrive , the small fry of the neighbourhood being , of course , the first to appear . By-and-by came the rank and fashion of Meadowshire , and by three o'clock the gardens were crowded . It was a brilliant scene ; there was the gaily-dressed crowd going in and out of the tents , groups of elderly people sitting talking under the trees , lawn-tennis players at one end of the garden , the militia band playing Strauss 's waltzes at the other , the scarlet and white flags floating bravely over everybody in the breeze , and a hum of many voices and a sound of merry laughter in every direction . Mr. and Mrs. Miller , and Guy , the hero of the day , moved about amongst the guests from group to group . Guy , it must be owned , looking considerably bored .