noon
The Keiths were leaving South Harniss rather early that year and the head of the family had dropped in to say good-by . Mr. Keith 's liking for Mary was as strong as ever , and for her uncles he had , by this time , a very real regard , a feeling which was reciprocated by them . Conversation began in the way the majority of conversations begin , with a discussion of the weather , its recent past , present , and probable future , shifted to the tea-room and its success and then to the visitor 's recent trip to New York , from which city he had just returned . It was near the noon hour and there were few customers to interrupt . Those who did come were taken care of by Mr. Crocker . `` Anything new happenin ' over there ? '' inquired Captain Shadrach , asking news of the metropolis exactly as he would have asked concerning the gossip of Harniss Center .