four o'clock
They were asked for a purpose , -- a purpose which it was vain to guess , and impossible to escape . Go they must , and be improved they must , _ bon gré mal gré _ , and enjoy themselves they would if they could . So there were mingled feelings abroad when Mrs. Upjohn 's neatly written invitations found their way into each of the West-End houses , embracing natives and strangers alike in their all-hospitable sweep , and even creeping into some outlying less aristocratic quarters , where confusion worse confounded , in the shape of refurbishing and making over , followed agonizingly in their wake . The invitations were indited by Miss Maria Upjohn , it being an opportunity to improve that young lady 's handwriting which her mother could not have conscientiously suffered to pass , and stated that Mr. and Mrs. Reuben O. Upjohn requested the honor of your company on Thursday , July 14th , punctually at four o'clock . R.S.V.P. Joppa immediately R.S.V.P. 'd that it would feel flattered to present itself at that hour , and then looked anxiously around and asked itself `` What will it be this time ? '' The day dawned , and still the great question agitated public minds unsolved . `` There is n't a word to be coaxed or threatened out of Maria , '' said Bell Masters .