noon
The hour for recess came and passed . The girls and the very little boys were allowed their recess , but nothing was said to the larger boys about their going out . Pewee and Riley were defiant . At length , when the school was about to break up for noon , the master put his pen , ink , and other little articles in the desk , and the school grew hushed with expectancy . `` This apology , '' said Mr. Williams , `` which I see is in John Dudley 's handwriting , and which bears the signature of all but three of those who were guilty of the offence yesterday , is a very manly apology , and quite increases my respect for those who have signed it . I have suffered much from your carelessness of yesterday , but this apology , showing , as it does , the manliness of my boys , has given me more pleasure than the offence gave me pain . I ought to make an apology to you .