four
o'clock
I have very great pleasure in declaring this new building open . '' After Sir James had sat down , the Mayor and several other people made short speeches , and when all the clapping had finally subsided , the piano struck up , and the school sang an Empire Song and the National Anthem . Then the door at the back of the platform opened again for the exit of the visitors , who , chatting among themselves , made their way to Miss Burd 's study to be hospitably entertained with tea and cakes . The whole ceremony had barely occupied an hour , and it was not yet four o'clock . The girls , in orderly files , marched from the lecture-hall , and betook themselves first to their new form-rooms , where textbooks were given out with preparation for the next day , and desks allotted ; then , when the great bell rang for dismissal , to the playground and cloak-rooms , en route for home . Ingred , with a goodly pile of fresh literature under her arm , walked slowly downstairs . She was not in any hurry to leave the class-room , and lingered as long as the limits of Miss Strong 's patience lasted .