ten o'clock
`` Same here , '' answered Nan happily , as she gathered books and paper together and tossed them into a far corner of the room . `` Why , Nan ! '' exclaimed Bess in surprise , glancing at the clock , `` where do you suppose the girls are ? They were to be on hand at ten o'clock , and it 's now five minutes after . '' `` Lessons , '' replied Nan laconically . `` They 'll be here any second now . '' As she spoke the door opened softly , and Laura slipped in with a bundle of things in her arms .