five minutes to noon
She wanted the window open , to get rid of the humble-bees ; a word to one of the elder boys and it would be done . Yet the minutes passed and the word remained unspoken . So a sick man will lie and debate with himself so small a thing as the lifting of a hand . At length the clock hands pointed to five minutes to noon . She ordered books to be shut and slates to be put away ; and going to the harmonium , gave out the hymn , `` Lord , dismiss us with Thy blessing . '' The Managers had agreed upon this hymn ; the Nonconformist majority insisting , however , that the concluding ` Amen ' should be omitted . Omitted accordingly it was on the slips of paper printed for school use .