noon
There was nothing she was ashamed of to an uncomfortable degree but the long animosity between herself and the children 's aunt . How harsh she had been sometimes ; she had even tried to prejudice everybody who listened to these tales of an offender . `` I wa 'n' t more 'n half right , now I come to look myself full in the face , '' said Mercy Bascom , `` and I never owned it till this day . '' The sun was already past noon , and the good woman dutifully rose and with instant consciousness of resource glanced in at the kitchen window to tell the time by a familiar mark on the floor . `` I need n't start just yet , '' she muttered . `` Oh my ! how I do wish I could git in and poke round into every corner ! '