three in the afternoon
They made a little public ceremony of it in spite of her reluctance , and Mr. Brumley had to witness things from out of the general crowd and realize just how completely he was n't in it , in spite of all his efforts . Mrs. Pembrose was modestly conspicuous , like the unexpected in all human schemes . There were several reporters present , and Horatio Blenker who was going to make a loyal leader about it , to be followed by one or two special articles for the _ Old Country Gazette _ . Horatio had procured Mrs. Blapton for the opening after some ineffectual angling for the Princess Adeline , and the thing was done at half-past three in the afternoon . In the bright early July sunshine outside the new building there was a crimson carpet down on the pavement and an awning above it , there was a great display of dog-daisies at the windows and on the steps leading up to the locked portals , an increasing number of invited people lurked shyly in the ground-floor rooms ready to come out by the back way and cluster expectantly when Mrs. Blapton arrived , Graper the staff manager and two assistants in dazzling silk hats seemed everywhere , the rabbit-like architect had tried to look doggish in a huge black silk tie and only looked more like a rabbit than ever , and there was a steady driftage of small boys and girls , nurses with perambulators , cab touts , airing grandfathers and similar unemployed people towards the promise of the awning , the carpet and the flowers . The square building in all its bravery of Doulton ware and yellow and mauve tiles and its great gilt inscription INTERNATIONAL HOSTELS above the windows of the second storey seemed typical of all those modern forces that are now invading and dispelling the ancient residential peace of Bloomsbury . Mrs. Blapton appeared only five minutes late , escorted by Bertie Trevor and her husband 's spare secretary .