noon
`` Oh , yes , thank you , '' said Gerry eagerly ; `` I can black it and all that . And Aunt Serinda 's James will come for it . '' There were several additions to the cook-stove before Gerry hurried on to Judge Beaker 's , following the suggestion that the Beaker girls had just refurnished their bedroom . It was close after house-cleaning time , and rummage sales had not yet found their way into East Greenfield ; so it was not very wonderful that by noon Gerry really had enough things promised her to furnish the barn with a comfort that would seem luxury to the young Jimsons and their mother . It must be confessed that the finishing touch for Gerry was given when she leaned on the window-sill to tell the story to little lame Ruthie West , not because she expected anything there , but because she was so happy that she could not help stopping to share it with some one . Ruthie laughed over the yellow soap feelingly offered by Mr. Evans , and cried over the cook-stove , and when it was all told exclaimed earnestly : -- `` Oh , Gerry , I must do something ; I just must ! I have n't any things , even if you needed them ; but you come in , please , and get my Japanese box out of the bureau drawer .