four o’clock
Henri 's exercise , and , spectacles on nose , I endeavoured to decipher in her countenance her sentiments at the omission . I wanted to find out whether in her existed a consciousness of her own talents . `` If she thinks she did a clever thing in composing that devoir , she will now look mortified , '' thought I. Grave as usual , almost sombre , was her face ; as usual , her eyes were fastened on the cahier open before her ; there was something , I thought , of expectation in her attitude , as I concluded a brief review of the last devoir , and when , casting it from me and rubbing my hands , I bade them take their grammars , some slight change did pass over her air and mien , as though she now relinquished a faint prospect of pleasant excitement ; she had been waiting for something to be discussed in which she had a degree of interest ; the discussion was not to come on , so expectation sank back , shrunk and sad , but attention , promptly filling up the void , repaired in a moment the transient collapse of feature ; still , I felt , rather than saw , during the whole course of the lesson , that a hope had been wrenched from her , and that if she did not show distress , it was because she would not . At four o'clock , when the bell rang and the room was in immediate tumult , instead of taking my hat and starting from the estrade , I sat still a moment . I looked at Frances , she was putting her books into her cabas ; having fastened the button , she raised her head ; encountering my eye , she made a quiet , respectful obeisance , as bidding good afternoon , and was turning to depart : -- `` Come here , '' said I , lifting my finger at the same time . She hesitated ; she could not hear the words amidst the uproar now pervading both school-rooms ; I repeated the sign ; she approached ; again she paused within half a yard of the estrade , and looked shy , and still doubtful whether she had mistaken my meaning . `` Step up , '' I said , speaking with decision .