noon
Carrie , have you gone yet ? '' But the maid , Annie , appeared at the head of the stairs , on the landing of the second floor , a towel bound about her head , her duster in her hand . `` Mrs. Cressler has gone out , Mrs. Jadwin , '' she said . `` She said you was to make yourself at home , and she 'd be back by noon . '' Laura nodded , and standing before the hatrack in the hall , took off her hat and gloves , and folded her veil into her purse . The house was old-fashioned , very homelike and spacious , cool , with broad halls and wide windows . In the `` front library , '' where Laura entered first , were steel engravings of the style of the seventies , `` whatnots '' crowded with shells , Chinese coins , lacquer boxes , and the inevitable sawfish bill .