midday
It was only the extras who were arriving at this late hour to show their numbers and claim their lockers . There were comparatively few amateurs . Most of the girls had had shop experience , but greenhorns betrayed ignorance as they entered . To them , shortly and succinctly , were explained the rules : the system of `` stubs '' dealt out to newcomers as they gave their numbers and had lockers assigned them -- stubs to be religiously kept for the protection of property from false claimants ; the working of a slot machine , in which must be slipped a card , and the moment of the morning and midday arrival thus recorded with ruthless exactitude -LRB- twenty-five cents docked off your pay if you were late -RRB- , and other odds and ends of routine information , such as the hours at which lockers might or might not be opened without the presentation of special passes . As Win fitted her key into the grated door which would in future pertain to No. 2884 , into the locker room bounced the sardine . `` Hello , Lady Ermyntrude ! '' said she .