noon
Boudoir caps were unknown in the Chicken Hill School , so the bare truth of these preparations were to be seen and known of all . Maudie Steadman had her four curls set in long rags , fastened up with pins , Mrs. Steadman having devised a new , original way of making Maudie 's hair into large , loose `` natural '' curls , which were very handsome , and not until this day did Mrs. Steadman show to the public the method of `` setting . '' Mr. Donald had placed all details of the entertainment in the hands of Mary Watson and Maudie Steadman , and no two members of a House-Committee ever worked harder , or took more pleasure in making arrangements . `` Let 's not ask the Pipers -- they 're dirt poor , '' said Maudie , when they sat down at noon to make out the list of providers . `` Indeed , we will , '' said Mary , whose knowledge of the human heart was most profound . `` If people are poor , that 's all the more reason why they would be easily hurt , and it 's not nice for us to even know that they are poor . We 'll ask them , you bet -- and Mrs. Piper will bring something .