noon
The reaction from excitement had set in , and she let her husband 's jest fall to the ground where it belonged . If only that unfortunate advertisement had done the same ! They would not then have been so annoyed by an overflow of traders nor been rendered the laughing-stock of the community . Besides it was now past noon and dinner must be prepared ; so she rose to go indoors , suggesting to Dorothy : `` It might be well to see if Hannah and the calf need water . You can take that old pail I use to scrub from and carry them a drink . Take but a half-pailful at a time . You 're too young to lift heavy things , yet . ''