noon before
`` No , no , '' said her aunt , `` there 's nothing much to do ; I 'll get somebody in to help Hopalong make cakes and jellies , and we can leave the house decorations until Thursday . '' `` Yes , that will be best , '' said Nan , `` for to-morrow I 'm going over to Montauk Point for the day , but I 'll help all day Thursday . '' `` We 'll all work with more enthusiasm when the day of the party comes , '' said Aunt Grace , `` and now run along to bed , all of you . '' Next day the family rose late , and breakfast was much later , so that it was noon before they started for New York . Then Bob proposed that they go to the Zoo first , and do the shopping afterwards . This they did , and the result was , that , as the animals were so interesting , after they had seen them all it was too late to go to the shops . `` Whew !