nine o'clock
She had not much time , however , for further reflections ; a loud bell in the passage gave the signal for rising , and , afraid of being late , she got up at once . Judging from the sounds in the other cubicles , Doris and Ella appeared to have some difficulty in waking May , who was evidently a heavy sleeper , and all three indulged in many yawns and groans before they finally tore themselves out of bed , and hurried rapidly through their toilets , chatting meanwhile about various affairs which were quite unintelligible to anyone who had not yet learnt to take part in the life at The Priory . Patty was able to say good morning to Jean , and to sit next to her at prayers , but they were obliged to separate in the refectory , and breakfast was as silent a meal as supper of the night before . Lessons began at nine o'clock , and Patty found herself escorted by Miss Rowe to a small empty classroom , where she was to undergo an entrance examination . All the other new girls , including Jean , had already taken this examination at home , the papers having been sent to them by post ; but owing to a mistake , this preliminary had been omitted in Patty 's case , and she must now give some proof of her attainments before she could be placed in any form . It was an anxious morning for her . She wrote on steadily , but it was difficult to do herself justice , as the history paper was on a period she had not studied specially , and the geography also covered new ground .