twelve o'clock
As she met this strange girl 's glance , a thrill of recognition ran through her veins ; a voice in her heart cried , '' _ My Friend _ ! '' and she knew just as surely as if she had been told _ in _ words that at the same moment Susan 's heart had sounded the same glad welcome . She said : `` Thank you , Susan , '' in a voice unusually subdued , and bit her lips to keep back the tears . At twelve o'clock work was laid aside and Miss Drake accompanied the girls for an hour 's constitutional . She claimed Dreda for her companion for the first part of the walk , for she had noticed the girl 's humiliation , and was anxious to have a few words with her in private . `` I am sorry that you should have had such a disagreeable cross - questioning this morning , Dreda , '' she began brightly , `` but I am sure you will realise that it was necessary . I was obliged to find out what you had been doing before I could make plans for the future .