noon
he 's cold and hungry . '' With feminine shrewdness she said , `` Now , Mr. Lacey , I shall feel slighted if you do n't take a cup of my tea , for see , I have made it myself . It 's the one thing about housekeeping that I understand . Your mother brought me a nice cup at noon , and I enjoyed it very much . I am going to pay that debt now to you . '' `` Well -- if you really wish it '' -- said Arden hesitatingly , with another of his bright looks , and color even deeper than the ruddy firelight warranted . `` My conscience ! ''