noon
The matron bridled a little . She was a pallid , tired woman with skeptical eyes . `` Well , I 'm sure that 's very kind of her but I 'm afraid it 's no use . I 've just come down from talking to her , nearly all her noon hour . She would n't go to the table . She 's turned sullen , now . She wo n't take any interest in the Christmas preparations ; would n't help the girls a bit . ''