half past
eight o'clock
Constance colored to the tips of her small ears . Jerry , too , began voicing loud approval , and when , after having stood in line and been inspected by Mrs. Dean , the four girls piled into the limousine , Constance was overcome with the peculiar sensation of experiencing too much happiness . She felt that it could not possibly last . The gymnasium was fairly well filled when they entered and by half past eight o'clock the majority of the guests had arrived . Hardly had they deposited their scarfs in the dressing-room and administered last judicious pats to straying fluffy locks of hair when Jerry , who had disappeared the moment they reached the dressing-room , came hurrying back with the information that Hal was waiting outside to do the honors . `` You 'd better hurry out and console the Crane , Irma , '' she added slyly . `` He looks about ten feet tall in his evening clothes and perfectly miserable . ''