Four o'clock
I hate to go in . '' The cheeks and eyelids of the almost executed Lady Jane and her bower maiden were in a sad state of redness when they entered the schoolroom , but nobody took any particular notice of them . Miss Fitch was used to such appearances , and so were the other boys and girls , when Eyebright and Bessie Mather had spent their recess , as they almost always did , in playing the game which they called `` acting stories . '' Four o'clock seemed slow in coming ; but it struck at last , as hours always will if we wait long enough ; and Miss Fitch dismissed school , after a little bit of Bible-reading and a short prayer . People nowadays are trying to do away with Bibles and prayers in schools , but I think the few words which Miss Fitch said in the Lord 's ear every night -- and they were very few and simple -- sent the little ones away with a sense of the Father 's love and nearness which it was good for them to feel . All the girls and some of the boys waited to kiss Miss Fitch for good-night . It had been a pleasant day .