noon
`` But we 're not going to explain . `` Come on , Alex , until we have further debate with the distinguished Turk up in the garret . He probably has arrived by this time . '' Whatever doubts Kate had as to the seriousness of the boys ' intentions , they had not only been dissipated by noon , but had given place to lively curiosity and expectation . Alex and Jack had devoted the entire morning to their mysterious preparations ; had made numerous trips to the church school-room , to the stores ; had borrowed needles , thread , mucilage ; had turned the library shelves upside-down in a search for certain books ; and once , coming on them unawares , she had surprised them practising strange incantations with their fingers . It was late in the afternoon that the serious , and what was to prove the most important , feature of the evening 's performance developed . On a return trip to the dry-goods store Jack drew Alex to a halt with an exclamation , and pointed across the street .