nine o'clock
I knew quite well where we were going to , and my lip was trembling when we entered the Reverend Mother 's room , for Alma was there , sitting by the stove , and close beside her , with an angry look , was the stout lady in furs whom I had seen in the carriage at the beginning of the holidays . `` Do n't be afraid , '' said the Reverend Mother , and drawing me to her side she asked me to tell her what I had told Alma about Sister Angela . I repeated our conversation as nearly as I could remember it , and more than once Alma nodded her head as if in assent , but the Reverend Mother 's face grew darker at every word and , seeing this , I said : `` But if Sister Angela did anything wrong I 'm sure she was very sorry , for when she came back she said her prayers , and when she got to ` Father of all mankind , forgive all sinners ... ' '' `` Yes , yes , that will do , '' said the Reverend Mother , and then she handed me back to the Mother of the Novices , telling her to warn me to say nothing to the other children . Alma did not return to us at dinner , or at recreation , or at chapel -LRB- when another chaplain said vespers -RRB- , or even at nine o'clock , when we went to bed . But next morning , almost as soon as the Mother of the Novices had left the dormitory , she burst into the room saying : `` I 'm leaving this silly old convent , girls . Mother has brought the carriage , and I 've only come to gather up my belongings . '' Nobody spoke , and while she wrapped up her brushes and combs in her nightdress , she joked about Sister Angela and Father Giovanni and then about Mildred Bankes , whom she called `` Reverend Mother Mildred , '' saying it would be her turn next .