six o'clock
asked a pleasant voice from within ; and Susan , looking a little thinner and paler than when we first met her , came out of the parlor , where she had been picking a few scattered petals from beneath the vases of flowers upon the mantle-shelf . `` An ' would ye be plazed to read the missus 's note to me wonst more ? Me owld eyes are that dim , I ca n't make it out in the gloamin ' . '' Susan , with unshaken gravity , took the note , turned it right side up , and read aloud , while her companion craftily glanced over her shoulder to note the position of the words as they were spoken : -- `` DEAR MRS. GINNISS , -- `` We shall be at home on Wednesday evening , at six o'clock , and shall bring some guests . You will please prepare tea for eight persons ; and make up five beds , three of them single ones . Tell Susan to make the house look as pretty as she can ; and send for any thing she or you need in the way of preparation . `` F. LEGRANGE '' `` An ' faith it 's this minute they 're coomin ! '