eight o'clock
`` Let us howl in peace . High School yell next , please . '' By the time the party had reached the center of the town where their ways parted , the shadow cast by the near accident had almost disappeared . By eight o'clock that evening the last guest had arrived , and the Harlowe 's hospitable home was the scene of radiant good cheer . Mrs. Gray , enthroned in a big chair in one corner of the drawing room , was in her element , and the young folks vied with each other in doing her homage . The sprightly old lady was never so happy as when surrounded by young folks . She had a word or smile for each one , and the new girls who had at first felt rather timid about meeting her , were soon entirely at ease in her presence .