midnight
It was at Betty 's party . And as Mr. Rand had told our friends , Betty was a wonderful girl -- for being happy and making others happy . Now , here it was less than a year from the time of her dear mother 's death , and on her own birthday , of course , she would not have a party , but when Daddy came in with his arms full of company and bundles , as Betty put it , of course she turned right in and had an impromptu party -- just to make Daddy happy . It was an easy matter to gather in a few of the nearby cottagers , of whom there were many very pleasant samples , and so , when the evening following the midnight tow arrived , the party from Chelton found themselves rested and ready for the festivities . As usual , Walter was devoted to Betty . Jack liked her , Ed admired her , but Walter claimed her -- that was his way . She was a pretty girl of rather an unusual type , accounted for , her father declared , by the fact that her mother was an Irish beauty , and gave to Betty that wonderful golden-red hair , the hazel eyes and the indescribable complexion that is said to come from generations of buttermilk .