noon
Molly had grown to love the Christmas holidays at college . It was a perfect time of peace after the excitement and hurry of her life -- a time when she could steal into the big library and read the hours away without being disturbed , or scribble things on paper that she would like to expand into something , some day , when her diffidence should leave her . To-day , curled up in one of the big window seats , Molly was thinking of a curious thing that had happened that morning at O'Reilly 's . She had gone in to say good-bye to Judith Blount and Madeleine Petit , who were leaving for New York by the noon train . `` I suppose you 'll be visiting all the tea rooms in town for new ideas , '' Molly had said pleasantly . `` Yes , indeed , '' said Madeleine . `` I never leave a stone unturned and everything 's grist that comes to my mill .