twelve o'clock
Hester Thornton found that she could dress by daylight , then that she was no longer cold and shivering when she reached the chapel , then that she began intensely to enjoy her mid-day walk , then that she found her winter things a little too hot , until at last , almost suddenly it seemed to the expectant and anxious girls , glorious spring weather broke upon the world , the winds were soft and westerly , the buds swelled and swelled into leaf on the trees , and the flowers bloomed in the delightful old-fashioned gardens of Lavender House . Instantly , it seemed to the girls , their whole lives had altered . The play-room was deserted or only put up with on wet days . At twelve o'clock , instead of taking a monotonous walk on the roads , they ran races , played tennis , croquet , or any other game they liked best in the gardens . Later on in the day , when the sun was not so powerful , they took their walk ; but even then they had time to rush back to their beloved shady garden for a little time before tea and preparation for their next day 's work . Easter came this year about the middle of April , and Easter found these girls almost enjoying summer weather . How they looked forward to their few Easter holidays !