noon
Each boy had led one of the errant ponies , and now the girls mounted and lost no time in getting back to camp . `` I 'm so sorry -- '' Blue Bonnet began to speak as soon as she came within sight of her grandmother , '' -- I did n't mean to be so late . '' `` I ca n't quite understand , Blue Bonnet , why you and Kitty could not come back with the other girls . It is long past noon . '' Mrs. Clyde had been worried , and required more of an explanation than an apology . Blue Bonnet 's tired face and dusty , dishevelled clothes spoke eloquently of adventure . `` I stopped to pick up a lamb , -- its mother had gone on with the flock and left it to starve .