noon
`` Bring your basket into the sitting-room , where Gracie is ; and we 'll look over its contents . '' Max was less fortunate to-day than his sister . His custodian was on the look-out for him , cowhide in hand , and seizing him roughly , as he entered the gate , with a fierce , `` I 'll teach you to disobey orders another time , you young vagabond ! I told you to come home at noon , and you 're over two hours behind time ! '' began to administer an unmerciful flogging . `` Stop ! '' cried Max , trying to dodge the blows .