one in the afternoon
She would give Mrs. Merrill a chance . The bell of release from studies was ringing as she finished this second letter , and Miss Sadler in her haste forgot to enclose the clippings . She ran out in time to intercept Susan Merrill at the door , and to press into her hands the clippings and the note , with a request to take both to her mother . Although the Duncans dined in the evening , the Merrills had dinner at half-past one in the afternoon , when the girls returned from school . Mr. Merrill usually came home , but he had gone off somewhere for this particular day , and Mrs. Merrill had a sewing circle . The girls sat down to dinner alone . When they got up from the table , Susan suddenly remembered the note which she had left in her coat pocket .