twenty-five minutes after nine precisely
Saturday , also , was the day for writing home letters ; so , altogether , it was about the busiest of the week . Early in the morning Miss Jane appeared in Quaker Row with some slips of paper in her hand , one of which she left at each door . They told the hours at which the girls were to go to the bath-house . `` You will carry , each , a crash towel , a sponge , and soap , '' she announced to Katy , `` and will be in the entry , at the foot of the stairs , at twenty-five minutes after nine precisely . Failures in punctuality will be punished by a mark . '' Miss Jane always delivered her words like a machine , and closed her mouth with a snap at the end of the sentence . `` Horrid thing !