noon
The news of the neighborhood was given to her by Mary . `` The Paines are putting up a new house , Pearl , and Mrs. Paine has some real nice clothes , and they seem to be getting on far better . '' `` That 's good , '' said Pearl , and then added , with such deep conviction , as if she were trying to convince some one , she said : `` There 's nothing too good to be true . '' At noon , when all the family had been fed , and the horses were resting in the well-bedded stalls -- John Watson gave himself and his horses a two hours ' rest in the heat of the day -- when every one was present , Pearl told them something of her adventures on the six weeks of her absence . Especially did she tell the young brothers of the lonesome little boy who had no playmates , but who loved his mother so much he would not let her know that he was lonely . Patsey had a solution of the difficulty : `` Take me back , when you go , Pearl , and I 'll play with him , and let him fly my kite n ' everything . '' `` O , he is n't lonely now , '' Pearl said , `` thank you all the same -- but I 'm going to bring him over in the holidays , for he needs to play with boys of his own age . ''