Three o'clock
Marjorie had already imagined much concerning this particular knot of girls , and her desire to see them again before entering school was responsible for her walk down Lincoln avenue that sunny fall afternoon . She would do her errands first , she decided , then , returning by the way of the school , pass there just at the time that the afternoon session was dismissed . She went about her far-from-arduous commissions in leisurely fashion , now and then glancing at her châtelaine watch to make sure of the time . Three o'clock saw the daily procession of girls down the high school steps , and released from classes for the day . She did not intend to miss them . It was twenty minutes to three when Marjorie finished a remarkable concoction of nuts , chocolate syrup and ice cream , a kind of glorified nut sundae , rejoicing in the name of `` Sargent Nectar , '' and left the smart little confectioner 's shop . As she neared the school building her eyes suddenly became riveted upon a slim , blue-clad figure that hesitated for on instant at the top of the high steps then ran lightly down and came hurrying toward where she stood .