noon
`` I am sure there is n't the least reason to be seriously alarmed , '' he assured her half a dozen times with a curious understanding of Polly 's character ; `` you see your sister has got a funny streak in her that makes her mighty interesting and mighty uncertain . '' -LRB- How angry Polly would have been could she have heard him ! -RRB- `` She has got a lot to learn before she settles down . '' By noon , finding his three companions nearly exhausted , the young man persuaded them to go up to the big , comfortable farmhouse , see his mother , have their luncheon and rest . And straightway on meeting her , Mrs. Webster took a liking to Mollie that was to last all the rest of her life . During this time Betty , Esther and Sylvia were going slowly along the main path that led through the fields and finally on to the high road into the village . Miss McMurtry and her assistants were climbing Sunrise Hill .