half past three o'clock in the afternoon
She might have been nineteen years old , -- not more , -- but for the time being she scorned the frivolities of youth . The hot May sun was shining in at the smoky small-paned windows ; sometimes an outside shutter swung to with a creak , and eclipsed the glare . The narrow door stood wide open , to the left as you faced the desk , and an old spotted dog lay asleep on the step , and looked wise and old enough to have gone to school with several generations of children . It was half past three o'clock in the afternoon , and the primer class , settled into the apathy of after-recess fatigue , presented a straggling front , as they stood listlessly on the floor . As for the big boys and girls , they also were longing to be at liberty , but the pretty teacher , Miss Marilla Hender , seemed quite as energetic as when school was begun in the morning . The spring breeze blew in at the open door , and even fluttered the primer leaves , but the back of the room felt hot and close , as if it were midsummer . The children in the class read their lessons in those high-keyed , droning voices which older teachers learn to associate with faint powers of perception .