twelve o'clock
On Saturdays , because of the early closing , the girls had no lunch hour . But they always sent out for a bag of graham crackers , which they nibbled as they worked , and , between eleven and one , they took turns at disappearing in the direction of the lunch-room , to return with well scrubbed hands and powdered noses , fresh collars and carefully arranged hair . Best hats were usually worn on Saturdays , and Susan rejoiced that she had worn her best to-day . After the twelve o'clock whistle blew , she went upstairs . On the last flight , just below the lunch-room , she suddenly stopped short , her heart giving a sick plunge . Somebody up there was laughing -- crying -- making a horrible noise -- ! Susan ran up the rest of the flight .