noon
When the top of the box was finally off , and a quantity of papers removed , they gave a simultaneous cry of delight . The box was full of books . They took them out , one at a time , with little exclamations of pleasure , as an old friend came to light . Sitting down on the ground they piled the books about them on the papers , and opening favorites here and there read to each other and themselves till long after noon . It was really a fine library , well chosen , covering a wide range of subjects and including an encyclopædia and an unusually fine edition of Shakespeare . `` Is n't it the most beautiful Christmas present you can imagine , Adam ? '' she said .