noon
What kind of a chap ought I to ask for her ? Harry Birch is in town . I thought she might like him . '' And so the lads talked over the plans for the coming house party , and so successfully did Ralph play his part that his pal did not for one moment suspect that his friend was secretly wishing that he might have sailed away in Dick 's place on the boat which , that noon , had left for distant shores . But night is darkest before the dawn . Ralph and Dick were out on the wide velvety lawn which surrounded the handsome rambling summer home of the Caldwaller-Corys . The gay awnings , palms and boxes of flowers gave the house a festive appearance , while the many colored lanterns strung about the garden suggested that some merriment was planned for the evening .