noon
`` Be careful about Hepsie , mother , '' Elizabeth called after her in an undertone . `` She 's a good girl , if you understand her and -- and they leave you at the drop of a hat . '' Hepsie 's going came sooner than even Elizabeth had feared . She brought a cup of coffee to her at noon , but avoided conversation and went out at once . Elizabeth called her mother-in-law to her after dinner was over and cautioned her afresh . `` But I have n't had a word with her that was ill-natured or cross , '' Mrs. Hunter protested indignantly . `` I do n't suppose you have , mother , '' the miserable girl replied , puzzled as to how she was to make the older woman understand .