twelve o'clock
`` Was n't the ghost splendid ? '' `` I shivered all over when he was speaking , '' Nancy declared ; and so on and so on , until Judith fell asleep and dreamed that she was dancing the Sir Roger with Miss Meredith arrayed as Mrs. Cratchit , and that , so arrayed , Miss Meredith had proceeded to the platform and had read out the term 's marks beginning with Five A. First , Judith Benson ; second , Joyce Hewson ; third , Nancy Nairn . It was a good thing that Judith had the fun of her dream because in the lists read out after prayers next morning our heroine stood fourth , in Five A , but that did n't spoil her morning , such a happy morning . Desks were tidied , Christmas presents tied up , suitcases packed , and at twelve o'clock a short Christmas service was held in Big Hall . The carols which they had been learning the last few weeks at morning prayers were sung now with a right good will to the accompaniment of the School orchestra . And then Miss Meredith , having read the beautiful Christmas story , explained the meaning of its message so clearly , so simply , and yet so earnestly , and with such a passionate longing that from York Hill there should indeed radiate `` Peace and good will towards all men , '' that not the stupidest nor the most frivolous girl but was touched to a sense of higher ideals and nobler living . Every girl in the School knew that the Head Mistress was humbly striving to embody in her own life the high ideals she held before her pupils , and because of this they listened .