noon
Her continuing to attend the Wednesday meetings , and her serious attention when there , were good signs ; so was Etta 's voluntary attendance at the Sunday evening service , a thing that had never happened before , and Eunice began to hope that the solemn , earnest realities of life would yet become precious to her light-hearted , wayward sister . This evening they talked over the novel grievance , and the temptations to which the mill-girls were exposed , and Etta proposed a plan for their benefit , which , when matured and digested , besides being supported by Mr. Mountjoy 's purse and his son 's executive ability , eventuated in the conversion of an unused loft in the mill into a library and reading-room for the girls and such of their brothers and friends as knew how to appreciate its benefits by behaving like gentlemen . The books were chosen with great care , and were the best of their kind to be had -- popular science , history , and biography , with a large , a very large , proportion of such fiction as had a tendency to elevate and instruct , while it interested , its readers . The books were not to be taken from the building , except upon rare occasions and under peculiar circumstances ; but the reading-room , which was nicely carpeted , well warmed , and furnished with long tables and comfortable chairs , was open during the noon intermission and for two hours every evening , and good behavior was the only condition demanded for enjoying both its social and literary privileges . The library soon became a very popular institution , and the sale and consumption of sensational literature decreased proportionally . Before separating for the night , Etta said : `` Did you notice the girl who asked the question about novels ? '' `` Katie Robertson ?