noon
Wait till I put back these papers where they were . There now , let 's go downstairs and come up with the others when the bell rings . '' When the bell rang and the children came upstairs , they found a member of the school committee sitting on the platform beside Miss Mason 's desk , and the teacher announced that they would have a reading lesson for the first and second grades in place of the usual work . `` I will show you the book I promised to let the second grade see , directly after the noon period , '' said Miss Mason . `` I 'm sorry I could n't be here this recess , but we had an important conference . Now , Margaret , you may read the first paragraph of the third lesson . '' Rufus Hornbeck was the name of the committeeman , and all the children who had been to school before knew him as the head of the school committee and a man who could , if he wished , scold even Mr. Carter , the primary and grammar school principal .