noon
Some of the party decided that `` one people '' was a good place to stop , and the little boys sent off some fresh torpedoes in honor of the people . But Mr. Peterkin was not satisfied . He invited the assembled party to stay until sunset , and meanwhile he would find a copy , and torpedoes were to be saved to be fired off at the close of every sentence . And now the noon bells rang and the noon bells ceased . Mrs. Peterkin wanted to ask everybody to dinner . She should have some cold beef . She had let Amanda go , because it was the Fourth , and everybody ought to be free that one day ; so she could not have much of a dinner .