noon
She wagged a derisive finger at the Verger , and , calling the children , went to get her scrubbing-pail and brushes . All day long , while distant guns roared , she went about her daily tasks , keeping one spot of order and cleanliness in the midst of the confusion , disorder , and destruction of the invaded city . The Twins were busy , too ; their Mother saw to that . They dusted chairs and placed them in rows ; and at noon they found a corner where the light falling through one of the beautiful stained-glass windows made a spot of cheerful color in the gloom , and there they ate part of the lunch which they had packed in the wicker basket . During all the excitement of the morning they had not forgotten the lunch ! When the day 's work was done , they ventured out upon the streets in the gathering dusk . They found them full of German soldiers , drinking , swaggering , singing , and they saw many strange and terrifying sights in the havoc wrought by the first bombardment .