twelve o'clock
Mdlle . Perier , who was a very fiery little woman , almost screamed at her -- the girls colored and nearly tittered . Hester hoped to recover her lost laurels in German , but by this time her head ached and she did very little better in the German which she loved than in the French which she detested . At twelve o'clock she was relieved to find that school was over for the present , and she heard the English teacher 's voice desiring the girls to go quickly to their rooms , and to assemble in five minutes ' time in the great stone hall , equipped for their walk . The walk lasted for a little over an hour , and was a very dreary penance to poor Hester , as she was neither allowed to run , race , nor talk a word of English . She sighed heavily once or twice , and several of the girls who looked at her curiously agreed with Annie Forest that she was decidedly sulky . The walk was followed by dinner ; then came half an hour of recreation in the delightful play-room , and eager chattering in the English tongue .