four o'clock
Nancy danced exquisitely , even after her ten busy and tiring years , and Bert was always proud of her when he saw her dancing . The dances broke up very late ; the Bradleys were reproached for going home at two o'clock . They both usually felt a little tired and jaded the next day , and not quite so ready to tramp with the children , or superintend brush fires or snow-shovelling as had once been their happy fashion . But they were fresh and eager at four o'clock when Marlborough Gardens came in for tea by the fire , or when the telephone summoned them to some other fireside for tea . It rarely was tea ; Nancy wondered that even the women did not care for tea . They sometimes drank it , and crunched cinnamon toast , after card parties , but on Saturdays and Sundays , when men were in the group , stronger drinks were the fashion , cocktails and highballs , or a bowl of punch . The Bradleys were charming people , Marlborough Gardens decided warm-heartedly ; they had watched the pretty new-comer and her splashing , sturdy children , all through the first quiet summer -- the children indeed , were all good friends already .