noon
If I do it neatly , she wo n't ask some other girl to do it over . '' Paying no attention to the covert glances of her companions , Patty set to work . She cut carefully , she fitted neatly ; she pinned and she basted ; she smoothed and she patted ; and finally she sewed , with tiny , close stitches , placed evenly and with great precision . So absorbed did she become in her task that she failed to notice the departure of the others at noon . Alone she sat there at the table , snipping , sewing , pinning , and patting the somewhat refractory satin . It was almost one o'clock when she finished , and looked up suddenly to see Miss O'Flynn standing watching her . `` Why are you doing this ? ''