one o'clock
Twelve years ' experience at school had taught her , however , that the one unpardonable sin is to `` answer back '' when scolded , so she curbed her tongue , and listened with lowered eyelids while Miss Ormerod talked to her on the poor standard of her weekly exercises and essays , and the necessity of making greater efforts at self-improvement . I have mentioned that the prefects at the High School had the special privilege of using the quaint little room built over the archway which spanned the road . Lesbia in particular regarded it as a harbour of refuge . She was now a daily boarder , and when one o'clock dinner was over she would often retire to this sanctum to read or do preparation before afternoon classes . At that hour she generally had it alone , and it seemed almost as good as a private study . One day , late in March , she walked briskly upstairs with her water-colour box . She wanted to illuminate a book back for Ermie 's birthday , she could not venture to paint it in the studio , because her chum might come in and see it , and there was practically no time available after she went home in the afternoons .