two o'clock
Marjorie waved good-bye to Mollie , and the school crocodile passed along the road in the direction of Whitecliffe . When the last hat had bobbed round the corner , and the shadow of Miss Norton 's presence was really removed for the space of four whole hours , the two girls each seized Elaine by one of her hands and twirled her round in a wild jig of triumph . Elaine was nearly twenty , old enough to just pass muster as an escort in the eyes of Miss Norton , but young enough to be still almost a schoolgirl at heart , and to thoroughly enjoy the afternoons of her cousins ' visits . She worked as a V.A.D. at the Red Cross Hospital , but she was generally off duty by two o'clock and able to devote herself to their amusement . She had come now straight from the hospital and was in uniform . `` You promised to take us to see the Tommies , '' said Marjorie , as Elaine turned down the side road and led the way towards home . `` The Commandant did n't want me to bring visitors to-day .