one o'clock
`` She could n't have done it herself . '' But Judith was not to be shaken in her resolve , and leaving the study room a little before one o'clock she settled herself in Helen Richard 's cupboard to watch . Fortunately for Judith 's plan Helen was in the Infirmary with a sore throat and through the keyhole of her cupboard Judith had a clear view of the letter-box . At a quarter-to-one Miss Marlowe put out the mail , but no one else came near the box until one o'clock when every one came as usual . Then , when everything was quiet again , Judith slipped out and caught up with the others as they went down to the dining-room . Before dinner was quite over , she asked permission to leave early , and she hid herself once more in the cupboard . The afternoon seemed interminably long , and as the cupboard was stuffy and close , if it had not been for Nancy 's chocolates Judith felt that she could not have kept awake .