noon
There was some beautiful English thread lace about four inches wide , just as it had lain away for years , wrapped in soft white paper , with a cake of white wax to keep it from turning unduly yellow . `` Betty , you are in wonderful luck , '' said her mother . `` Something has stirred up Aunt Priscilla . '' Just at noon that eventful Thursday Mr. Manning came in from Salem for his mother-in-law . Mrs. Manning 's little daughter had been born at eight that morning , and Mary wanted her mother at once . She had promised to go , but hardly expected the call so soon . There were so many charges to give Betty , who was to keep house for the next week .