noon
Half an hour later , and Theo , looking from her window , started in surprise as she saw the village omnibus drive up to their door . '' 'T is grandmother ! '' she cried , and running to meet her she asked why she had returned so soon . `` They are coming at noon , '' answered the excited woman -- then , hurrying into the house and throwing off her hood , she continued : `` He 's found her at the Falls ; they are between here and Albany now ; tell everybody to hurry as fast as they can ; tell Hannah to make a chicken pie -- Maggie was fond of that ; and turkey -- tell her to kill a turkey -- it 's Maggie 's favorite dish -- and ice cream , too ! I wish I had some this minute , '' and she wiped the perspiration from her burning face . No more hysterics now ; no more lonesome nights ; no more thoughts of death -- for Margaret was coming home -- the best loved of them all . Joyfully the servants told to each other the glad news , disbelieving entirely the report fast gaining circulation that the queenly Maggie was lowly born -- a grandchild of old Hagar .