noon before
Dan sprang up and held both hands toward his sister Jane . Julie had been prevailed upon to retire soon after the lads started out and was sound asleep . The girls had decided to be up at an early hour , but because they had gone to bed much later than usual they overslept . It was after noon before Meg appeared . `` Ma Heger '' had needed her help , was all that she said . Jane and Merry decided not to tell her about the night letter , for the suspense would be far harder for her to bear than it was for them . But after a time Meg began to wonder why , at frequent intervals , one or another of the young people went to the top of the stone stairs , and through field glasses , gazed down the mountain road .