eight o'clock
She wondered , too , if there were any way in which she might show Marjorie her affection and gratitude , and she made a solemn resolve that if that time came she would prove herself worthy of Marjorie Dean 's friendship . Saturday dawned as inauspiciously as any other day in the week , but to the high school boys and girls of the little city of Sanford it was a day set apart . Aside from commencement , the great event of their high school year was about to take place . As early as eight o'clock that morning the decorating committee of Weston High School was up and laboring manfully at the task of turning Weston 's big gymnasium into a veritable bower of beauty , which should , in due season , draw forth plenty of admiring `` Ohs ! '' and `` Ahs ! '' from their gentle guests . For three days the committee had been borrowing , with lavish promises of safe return , as many cushions , draperies , chairs , divans and various other articles calculated to fitly adorn the ballroom , as their families and friends confidingly allowed them to carry off .