six o'clock
Dinners and receptions demanded her presence as chief guest , while her newly acquired gift of speech-making was called into requisition on all sorts of occasions . But the finest social affair of all was the dinner given in her honor by the `` Progressive Workers , '' on the night before her inauguration . To this were invited all the notable men and women of Roma , the mayors of the neighboring cities and the governor of the State , who really attended , supported by a galaxy of uniformed officers which lent brilliancy by their glittering stars and bars , if not by their wit and intellect . Gertrude , arrayed in her finest Paris gown , -- a white embroidered crepon with garniture of exquisite lace , -- received the guests at six o'clock , in line with the governor and the mayors of six other cities , together with Mrs. Bateman as president of the `` P. W. 's '' , and Judge Bateman of the City Reform Club . John Allingham had been invited , too , to stand in line , as the head of the Municipal League , but until the last moment no answer was received from him . Gertrude had not seen him since election day . He had been ill after the election was all over , and unable to go out for a fortnight ; and although he had been strongly tempted to write a note of congratulation to the new mayor , he was kept back by pride -- which in this case , it must be admitted , was another name for obstinacy .