noon
`` We have made a discovery ! '' he shouted after them . `` We 'll tell you about it when we see you . '' And so , the noon meal over , the girls strolled out on the lawn again and waited eagerly for what the boys might have to tell them . They had not long to wait -- in fact they had barely had time to settle themselves in the comfortable chairs , when along the road came -- not the boys , but a ragged , bent , old woman , leaning heavily on a twisted stick for support . Instead of going straight on , as the girls had expected she would do , the old woman turned in at the drive and made straight for them . `` What shall we do ?