five o'clock
`` I have ordered dinner for six o'clock . '' Eating dinner in a dressing room was an innovation as far as Grace and Miriam were concerned , but to Anne it was nothing new . It had been in the usual order of things during her brief engagement in `` As You Like It . '' As it was after five o'clock when they arrived it seemed only a little while until a waiter appeared with table linen and silver , which Mr. Southard ordered arranged on the table that had been brought in for the occasion . Then the dinner was served and eaten with much gayety and laughter . After dinner , a pleasant hour of conversation followed , and later on the visitors were introduced to the various members of the company . Unlike many professionals who have achieved greatness , Mr. Southard was thoroughly democratic , and displayed none of the snobbish tactics with his company which so often humiliate and embitter the lesser lights of a theatrical company .