noon
Mrs. Harcourt said , with a light laugh ; `` Gwen is never ill , but she is so very popular that when she does not appear at meal time , I know that someone has urged her to lunch at her home . Gwen is dearly loved , and so is constantly being coaxed to remain at this house or that . '' The other guests could not be blamed if they wondered who it might be who continually longed to have Gwen as a guest . When the noon meal was over , the guests made their way out onto the piazza , seating themselves in little groups for an afternoon of chat and gossip . Some of the ladies were doing fancy work with gay colored silks . Mrs. Harcourt always brought her embroidery frame to the piazza . Not that she did much needlework , but she thought it looked well to have it with her , even if she talked for hours , while the frame lay idle in her lap .