noon
It was delightful to rattle along over the moist roads in the early red sunlight that was creeping across the shorn harvest fields . The air was fresh and crisp , and little smoke-blue mists curled through the valleys and floated off from the hills . Sometimes the road went through woods where maples were beginning to hang out scarlet banners ; sometimes it crossed rivers on bridges that made Anne 's flesh cringe with the old , half-delightful fear ; sometimes it wound along a harbor shore and passed by a little cluster of weather-gray fishing huts ; again it mounted to hills whence a far sweep of curving upland or misty-blue sky could be seen ; but wherever it went there was much of interest to discuss . It was almost noon when they reached town and found their way to `` Beechwood . '' It was quite a fine old mansion , set back from the street in a seclusion of green elms and branching beeches . Miss Barry met them at the door with a twinkle in her sharp black eyes . `` So you 've come to see me at last , you Anne-girl , '' she said .