noon
-LRB- The Careys never dated their happenings eighteen hundred and anything . It was always : Just before Peter , Immediately after Peter , or A Long Time after Peter , which answered all purposes . -RRB- `` I remember . '' `` It was one of Gilbert 's thirsty days , and we stopped at nearly every convenient pump to give him drinks of water , and at noon we came to the loveliest wayside well with a real moss-covered bucket ; do you remember ? '' `` I remember . '' `` And we all clambered out , and father said it was time for luncheon , and we unpacked the baskets on the greensward near a beautiful tree , and father said , ` Do n't spread the table too near the house , dears , or they 'll cry when they see our doughnuts ! ' and Kitty , who had been running about , came up and cried , ` It 's an empty house ; come and look ! ' ''