four o'clock
`` Were not those girls talking , Gretchen , '' said the superintendent , appealing to a stout German who worked near the others . `` No , ma'am , I believe not ; at least , Katie was n't . I heard Bertie say something , but Katie did not answer , but '' -- `` Never mind , '' said Miss Peters , who had got all she wanted , -- a chance to fine Bertie whom she hated , -- `` attend to your work , '' and she passed on , never noticing the hand which Katie , having hastily thrust it into her pocket , continued to hold there . The work proceeded in silence , and , as Katie went home at four o'clock as usual , Bertie did not have an opportunity to speak to her about the strange thing she had noticed . She did , however , say to Gretchen , as they separated : `` Did you see that ? '' `` What ? '' said the German , innocently .