eleven
o'clock
But I protest . '' When Gwynne arrived at the house on Russian Hill late in the evening it occurred to him to tap on Isabel 's door and tell her that he had obeyed her orders , recalled all the traditions down in their common ancestor 's old domain , and `` got the feel '' of the place . He had never crossed the threshold of this room although he had brushed his hair many times in the spotless bower by the marsh , and he was surprised , after a moment 's colloquy through the panels , by an invitation to enter . He was still more surprised to find Isabel sitting before her dressing-table in full regalia , although they were not to start for the party until eleven o'clock . She wore the white tulle gown with the dark-blue lilies in which she had created a sensation at Arcot , and looked more radiant than he had ever seen her . Her eyes were like stars , her cheeks were pink ; her red lips were parted , the upper trembling with excitement . `` Come !