noons
Spring had come with its usual hotly advancing rush upon the low-lying , sheltered southerly city . There had been a few days of magical warmth , full of spring madness , when every growing thing had expanded leaves with furious haste , when the noise of children playing in the street sounded loud through newly-opened windows , when , even on city streets , every breath of the sweet , lively air was an intoxicating potion . Then , with a bound , the heat was there . Evenings and nights were still cool , but noons were as oppressive as in July . The scarcely expanded leaves hung limp in a summer heat . All during that eventful winter , Mrs. Emery had frequently remarked to her sister-in-law that Lydia 's social career progressed positively with such brilliancy that it was like `` something you read about . '' Mrs. Sandworth invariably added the qualifying clause , `` But in a very nice book , you know , with only nice people in it , where everything comes out nicely at the end . ''