about four o'clock
`` Haud yer tongue , '' interrupted Alec , `` and rin , will ye ? '' Seeing he was quite determined , Annie , though loath to leave him , and in terror of what was implied in the threats he uttered against the master and might be involved in the execution of them , obeyed him and walked leisurely home , avoiding the quarters in which there was a chance of meeting her gaoler . She found that no one had observed her former visit ; the only remarks made being some _ goody _ ones about the disgrace of being kept in . When Mr Malison returned to the school about four o'clock , he found all quiet as death . The boys appeared totally absorbed in _ committing _ the Shorter Catechism , as if the Shorter Catechism was a sin , which perhaps it was not . But , to his surprise , which he pretended to be considerably greater than it really was , the girl was absent . `` Where is Ann Anderson ? ''