two until four
A Relapse Towards the end of June there was a burst of very warm weather , so sultry and hot as to make games , or any form of violent exertion , almost an impossibility . Ruth Latimer fainted one day when she was fielding , after which Miss Cavendish absolutely prohibited cricket in the blazing sun , and set to work to devise other means of occupation . The girls themselves would have been ready enough to lounge about all the afternoon in the grounds , chatting and doing nothing , but of that the head mistress did not approve ; she considered it might tend to encourage habits of gossip and idling , and much preferred that everyone should have some definite employment . She temporarily altered the hours of work , setting preparation from two until four , so that in the evening the school might be free to go out and enjoy the breeze that often rose towards sunset . In the circumstances , this really seemed a better division of time , for during the early afternoon it was actually cooler in the house , with sunblinds drawn to protect the windows , than out-of-doors ; and though there were many groans at having to learn lessons and write exercises immediately after dinner , on the whole the change was regarded with favour . General public opinion would have decided on swimming as the most suitable occupation in the state of the thermometer , but since the events related in the last chapter Miss Cavendish would not allow more than eight girls to go into the sea at once . `` It is as many as Miss Young can undertake to be responsible for , '' she said .