noon before
A selection from the Scripture was next read by the preceptress , a hymn sung under her lead with great spirit and correctness , and then Eliab Hill , clasping his hands , said , `` Let us pray . '' The whole school knelt , the ladies bowed their heads upon the desk , and Eliab offered an appropriate prayer , in which the strangers were not forgotten , but were each kindly and fitly commended to the Divine care . Then there was an impromptu examination of the school . Each of the teachers heard a class recite , there was more singing , with other agreeable exercises , and it was noon before the visitors thought of departing . Then they were invited to dine with the lady teachers at the old Ordinary , and would have declined , on the ground that they must go on to the next precinct , but Nimbus , who had been absent for an hour , now appeared and brought word that the table was spread on the porch under the great oak , and their horses already cared for ; so that excuse would evidently be useless . The sheriff was very uneasy , but the other seemed by no means displeased at the delay . However , the former recovered when he saw the abundant repast , and told many amusing stories of the old hostel .