eight o'clock
The tavern was all alight . Many other sleds were drawn up before the door ; indeed , certain of the young men who had not their especial sweethearts took their ox-sleds and went from door to door collecting the young women . Many a jingling load slipped along the snowy road to the tavern that night , and the ball-room filled rapidly . At eight o'clock the ball opened . Madelon stood up in the little gallery allotted to the violins and lilted , and the march began . Two and two , the young men and the girls swung around the room . Madelon lilted with her eyes upon the moving throng , gay as a garden in a wind ; and suddenly her heart stood still , although she lilted on .