noon
I looked over my small stores also , and my papers , which consisted of father 's letters . As I was sorting them the thought struck me of writing to Veronica , and I arranged my portfolio , pulled the table nearer the fire , and began , `` Dear Veronica . '' After writing this a few times I gave it up , cut off the `` Dear Veronicas , '' and made lamplighters of the paper . Ben Somers called at noon , to inquire the reason of my absence from school , and left a book for me . It was the poems he had spoken of . I lighted on `` Fatima , '' read it and copied it . In the afternoon Alice came up with the baby .