noon
Oh , Eldress Abby , they 've come back to me all day , those words . I 've tried hard to be good , but somehow I 've made just such a mess of my life as I made of hulling the berries . The bowl is broken , I have n't much fruit to show , and I am all stained and draggled . I should n't have come to Albion on the five-o'clock train -- that was an accident ; I meant to come at noon , when you could turn me away if you wanted to . '' `` Nay , that is not the Shaker habit , '' remonstrated Abby . `` You and the child can sleep in one of the spare chambers at the Office Building and be welcome . '' `` But I want much more than that , '' said Susanna , tearfully .