noon
`` Quarter of nine , '' was the reply . `` I did n't think it was so late ; did you ? '' said she , turning to her companions . They had been out perhaps two hours , and thought it was most noon , and back they went to their sports . Soon I heard a sound of weeping . I went to the door , where stood a group of children around the pump ; one poor shivering child , looking blue and cold , was having her hands and face washed by another , with water cold from the pump , the tears streaming down her cheeks , and she sobbing piteously . `` What is the matter , little girl ? ''