four o'clock
A `` senior , '' who was more familiar with her head-dress , explained the phenomenon in vain to Leon and Norine , for the boy , none the less , preserved in the presence of Mademoiselle Merlin an impression of superstitious terror . -LSB- Illustration -RSB- She would have paralyzed his infant faculties , and have prevented him in the class from following the pointer of Mademoiselle Merlin , as she sniffled through her sing-song lecture before the map of Europe , or the table of weights and measures , if Norine had not been there to reassure and encourage him . She was at once the first scholar in the school , and became for slow and lazy Leon a sort of sisterly counsellor and affectionate under-teacher . Towards four o'clock Madame Bayard had the two children , whom the nurse had brought back to the store , placed near her in the glass office ; and Norine , opening a copy-book or a book , explained to Leon the uncomprehended task or made him repeat the lesson that he had not understood . `` The good God has rewarded us , '' Madame Bayard sometimes whispered to her husband in the evening . `` That little Norine is a treasure , and so good , so industrious ! Only to-day I listened to her helping Leon again .