seven o'clock
The big hall and the living-room had been cleared for dancing . The galleries and the long covered way leading to the dining room had been decorated with flowers and lanterns . The long table in the dining-room was decorated , too , and would later be loaded with all sorts of good things : sandwiches , hot biscuits , tamales , cakes , and black coffee without sugar . In the center of the table already there was a huge round white something that called forth delighted clappings from the Happy Hexagons as they flocked in at seven o'clock to look at the table decorations . `` Oh , what a lovely cake , '' gurgled Tilly , `` and such a big one ! '' Genevieve laughed mischievously . `` I 'll give you the whole cake -- if you 'll cut it , '' she proposed .