nine o'clock
But notwithstanding these remarks the girls did feel a certain amount of interest at the thought of the new life that lay before them . Everything had changed from that sunny , languorous , _ dolce far niente _ time a fortnight back . Now the girls felt keen and brisk , and they knew well that each moment in the future would be spent in active employment . The next day , sharp at nine o'clock , the young people who were to form Miss Tredgold 's school entered the new schoolroom . It was suitably and prettily furnished , and had a charming appearance . Large maps were hung on the walls ; there was a long line of bookshelves filled partly with story books , partly with history books , and partly with ordinary lesson books . The windows were draped with white muslin , and stood wide open .