seven o'clock
Barry was the last guest to reach Holly Hall on the evening of Mrs. Burgoyne 's first dinner-party , and came in to find the great painter who was her guest the centre of a laughing and talking group in the long drawing-room . Mrs. Apostleman , with an open book of reproductions from Whistler on her broad , brocade lap , had the armchair next to the guest of honor , and Barry 's quick look for his hostess discovered her on a low hassock at the painter 's knee , looking very young and fresh , in her white frock , with a LaMarque rose at her belt and another in her dark hair . She greeted him very gravely , almost timidly , and in the new self-consciousness that had suddenly come to them both it was with difficulty that even the commonplace words of greeting were accomplished , and it was with evident relief that she turned from him to ask her guests to come into the dining-room . Warm daylight was still pouring into the drawing-room at seven o'clock , and in the pleasant dining-room , too , there was no other light . The windows here were wide open , and garden scents drifted in from the recently watered flower-beds . The long table , simply set , was ornamented only by low bowls of the lovely San Rafael roses . Guided and stimulated by the hostess , the conversation ran in a gay , unbroken stream , for the painter liked to talk , and Santa Paloma enjoyed him .