noon
For a week she had been absorbed in his nuptial outfit , jealously guarding his new clothes , to keep him from wearing them all before the wedding . Aunt Melvy was half an hour late in arriving , for she had tarried at `` Who 'd ` a ' Thought It '' to perform the last mystic rites over a rabbit 's foot which was to be her gift to the groom . The whole town was early astir and wore a holiday air . By noon business was virtually abandoned , for Clayton was getting ready to go to the wedding . Willowvale extended a welcome to the world . The wide front gates stood open , the big-eyed poplars beamed above the oleanders and the myrtle , while the thrushes and the redwings twittered and caroled their greetings from on high . The big white house was open to the sunshine and the spring ; flowers filled every nook and corner ; even the rose-bush which grew outside the dining-room window sent a few venturesome roses over the sill to lend their fragrance to those within .