four
o'clock
We were all sitting about the hall , idly , when a servant brought a note . It was an invitation ; that roused them all -- and for to-day . There was no time to lose . The Lowders had sent to ask us all to a croquet party there at four o'clock . `` What an hour ! '' cried Sophie , who was tired ; `` I should think they might have let us get rested from the picnic . '' But Charlotte and Henrietta were so much charmed at the prospect of seeing so soon the Frenchman and the young devoted Lowder , that they listened to no criticism on the hour or day .