nearly
midnight
`` I 'll come over to your room in just twenty-five minutes to the dot , '' called Miss Jinny after her , as she gathered her draperies about her and fled down the hall . The day passed delightfully , with morning service at the famous Dr. Arnold 's stately church , a specially sociable dinner at home , and a ` bus ride through the crisp sunshine of the afternoon into the snowy outskirts , with a cozy little tea in Miss Jinny 's big front room , where they could watch the twilight gather among the bare trees of the park and the lamps sparkle out among the shadows . After supper Mr. Spicer invited them in to see his collection of photographs which he had taken in all parts of the civilized and barbarous world , before the long illness , contracted in the swamps of West Africa , had put a stop to his active , adventurous life as a collector for the University . The girls enjoyed this surprising revelation of the quiet , elderly gentleman 's vigorous taste , but Miss Jinny fairly reveled in such close contact with the life she so ardently envied , and it was nearly midnight when they said good-night and hurried to their rooms , Miss Jinny declaring that she 'd never spent such a satisfactory day in her life , and all three full of the ideas for their costumes which Mr. Spicer 's photographs had suggested to them . The week that followed flew on winged feet . The costumes , simple enough at first , grew in detail with every day and absorbed so much of their spare time that Patricia frankly gave up any thought of work and yielded herself to the enjoyment of Miss Jinny and the day 's pleasure without any effort at serious work . `` The best thing about you , Miss Pat , '' said Elinor , the day before the party , `` is that you know when to stop .