noon
` You are so good , so everything , Jenny , ' said Adeline , ` that I am sure you will have her confidence in time , if only you wo n't poke after it . ' Which made Miss Mohun laugh , though her heart was heavy , for she had looked forward to having a friend and companion in the young generation . Gillian meantime went her way . One morning , after her mathematical class was over , she was delayed for about ten minutes by the head mistress , to whom she had brought a message from her aunt , and thus did not come out at noon at the same time as the day scholars . On issuing into the street , where as yet there was hardly any traffic , except what was connected with the two schools , she perceived that a party of boys were besetting a little girl who was trying to turn down the cross road to Bellevue , barring her way , and executing a derisive war-dance around her , and when she , almost crying , made an attempt to dash by , pulling at her plaited tail , with derisive shouts , even Gillian 's call , ` Boys , boys , how can you be so disgraceful ! ' did not check them . One made a face and put his tongue out , while the biggest called out , ` Thank you , teacher , ' and Gillian perceived to her horror , that they were no street boys , but Mrs. Edgar 's , and that Fergus was one of them .