noon
She only reiterated , with eyes sparkling anew , that they were `` proper nice folks , proper nice ! and she must go home and get Ellen . If she 'd known they were just like other folks she 'd have brought Ellen this morning ; but she 'd been afraid there 'd be talk that little girls better not hear . '' At noon , we sat about in the shade of the trees along the wall , and ate delicious cold food from the butter-boxes and baskets our men-folks had brought over during the forenoon lull ; and we assiduously offered Sudleigh a drink , whenever it passed the counter where barrels of free spring-water had been set . And then , at the first possible moment , we paid our fee , and went inside the tent to see the animals . That scrubby menagerie had not gained in dignity from its transference to canvas walls . The enclosure was very hot and stuffy ; there was a smell of dust and straw .