noon
He knew , but he did not tell her , that of what was actual expense there would be little cause for its repetition , and that most of the money expended was visible in assets of one sort or another . He only made her feel perfectly miserable , and wrought her up beyond the point of thinking or answering intelligently . When he had gone she tried for a while to busy herself about the house , but she felt a growing lonesomeness -- a desire for sympathy and companionship -- and she decided to put on her hat and go down to her cousin Sadie 's . It was now high noon , and a stifling hot day ; but she braved the heat of the blistering sun , and trudged along the dusty way to her destination . When she reached the Martins ' house she was dizzy and faint from the heat and the blinding glare . Judge Martin and Arthur came home to dinner , and both expressed the greatest sympathy for her and Checkers in their sudden misfortune . At the table Pert tried to eat for appearance 's sake , but her efforts ended in mere pretense .