ten
o'clock
Hitherto there had been no attempt at style in these brief meetings of the friends . But Fanny 's next entertainment was to be done properly . There was no secret about these gatherings . Miss Symes had been told that these special girls wanted to meet once a week between nine and ten o'clock in their respective bedrooms . She had carried the information to Mrs. Haddo , who had immediately given the desired permission , telling the girls that they might hold their meeting until the great bell rang for chapel . Prayers were always read at a quarter to ten in the beautiful chapel belonging to Haddo Court , but only the girls of the upper school attended in the evening . Fanny would have been in the highest spirits to-night were it not for the Vivians , were it not for the consciousness that she was in possession of a secret -- a really terrible secret -- which she must not tell to her companions .