noon
He grew cheerful and friendly . Clarence was in uproarious spirits , and Phil even worse . It seemed as if the air of the High Valley had got into his head . Dr. Hope left at noon , after making a second visit to the lame herder , and Mrs. Hope and Clover settled themselves for a week of enjoyment . They were alone for hours every day , while their young hosts were off on the ranch , and they devoted part of this time to various useful and decorative arts . They took all manner of liberties , poked about and rummaged , mended , sponged , assorted , and felt themselves completely mistresses of the situation . A note to Marian Chase brought up a big parcel by stage to the Ute Valley , four miles away , from which it was fetched over by a cow-boy on horseback ; and Clover worked away busily at scrim curtains for the windows , while Mrs. Hope shaped a slip cover of gay chintz for the shabbiest of the armchairs , hemmed a great square of gold-colored canton flannel for the bare , unsightly table , and made a bright red pincushion apiece for the bachelor quarters .