four o'clock
Her innocent remark led to conclusions quite unforeseen , and so disastrous that she would have given much if her words had never been uttered ; but once spoken they were impossible to recall , and the mischief was done . Blind as yet to what was to happen in the future , she spent half an hour at the piano , and then went to the classroom to fetch a book which she had forgotten . It was a pouring wet afternoon , and as it was quite impossible for the girls to play their usual game of hockey , they were allowed to amuse themselves as they liked until tea-time . As a rule the classroom was empty between three and four o'clock , and Patty opened the door , expecting to find the room unoccupied . To her astonishment , Muriel was seated there , busily engaged in writing , and evidently copying something from a book which she held on her knee . She started guiltily at her cousin 's entrance , as if she were being caught in some act which she did not wish to be discovered , turned crimson , and , thrusting the book into her desk , banged down the lid , and pretended to be tidying the contents of her pencil-box . It was so unusual to find Muriel at work out of school hours , that Patty could not help expressing her amazement .