one o'clock
One -- two -- three -- four -- '' Whether the strikers would have stood their ground or not is still an unsolved problem , but at that opportune moment the big school bell began to clang , and Miss Willough , the drill mistress , in her blue tunic , entered the gymnasium ready to take her next class . At sight of her , Dorrie hastily wiped the blackboard , and the juniors fled to their own form-rooms , suppressing flags and musical instruments on the way . Miss Willough gazed at them meditatively , but made no comment , and the Sixth , hurrying to a literature lesson , had no time to offer explanations . Lispeth , more upset than she cared to own , talked the matter over with her mother when she went to dinner at one o'clock . She was a very conscientious girl and anxious to do her duty as `` Head . '' As a result of the home conference she went to Miss Burd , explained the situation , and asked to be allowed to have the whole school together for ten minutes before four o'clock . `` It 's only lately there 's been this trouble , '' she said .