eight o'clock
But if Hester comes back without it , I shall draw my own conclusions , and I shall feel justified in doing so . '' She did not dare to say this to Mellie , Erma , or the older girls . It was to Emma she spoke , and Emma being youngest of all , and new to school life , listened and believed . Hester was expected on the eight o'clock car . It was not by chance that some of the girls lingered in the main hall at the time of her coming . Marshall from the office window , saw the car coming in the distance and went down to the triangle to carry up Hester 's baggage . The group of girls saw him and moved nearer to the door .