five o'clock
It was the very day after the great affair at Roseholme that Hildegarde had her own tea-party ; in fact , it had been planned for the birthday itself , and had only been postponed when Colonel Ferrers made known his kind wish . This was a piazza party . The broad , out-door room was hung with roses , -- some of the very garlands which had graced the dark walls of Roseholme the night before ; but here they were twined in and out of the vines which grew on all sides of the piazza , screening it from outside view , and making it truly a bower and a retreat . The guests had been asked to come at five o'clock , but it was not more than three when Hildegarde , coming to the door by chance , saw two or three little figures hanging about the gate , gazing wistfully in . At sight of her , their heads went down and their fingers went into their mouths ; they studied the ground , and appeared to know neither where they were , nor why they had come . `` Euleta ! '' exclaimed Hildegarde ; `` is that you , child ?