seven o'clock
It 's lots of fun ! '' Mary Bell 's face grew sober as she listened . It WOULD be fun to be one of the gay party in the big barn , in the twilight , and to have her share of the unpacking and arranging , and the excitement of arriving wagons and groups . The great supper of cold chicken and boiled eggs and fruit and pickles , the fifty varieties of cake , would be spread downstairs ; and upstairs the musicians would be tuning their instruments as early as seven o'clock , and the eager boys and girls trying their steps , and changing cards . And then there would be feasting and laughing and talking , and , above all , dancing until dawn ! `` Beg pardon , Johnnie ? '' she stammered .