six o'clock
You may be the very first , or you may sit quaking all the evening , and never be called at all . '' `` I hope to goodness -- I mean , I hope very much -- I sha n't be drawn . '' `` You never know ; so you 'd better have something in your mind 's eye . '' Punctually at six o'clock on the appointed night the whole school filed into the hall , each girl carrying a candle in a candlestick . Saluting their leader , they ranged themselves round the room for the opening ceremony . At an indoor meeting this was of necessity different from the kindling of the camp-fire , but it had a certain impressiveness of its own . First the lamps were extinguished , and the room was placed in entire darkness .