noon
Pearl had gathered up her four brothers after dinner and washed them clean at the river , also made repairs on their drooping stockings and twisted collars , and , holding tight to Danny , marshalled them across the end of the field to where Arthur and Martha sat with Jim and Camilla , and Tom Motherwell and Nellie Slater . Dr. Clay came driving around the end of the field . When he saw Pearl he stopped and asked her if she would come and sit in his buggy to watch the game . `` I ca n't leave the boys , thank you , doctor , '' she said ; `` there 's been three of them lost since noon , and they 've all got their good clothes on . '' `` Well , of course , we 'll have to keep track of them , in that case , '' he said , smiling , `` because it would be a real loss to lose them , clothes and all . I tell you what we 'll do , Pearl . I 'll give you the horse and buggy -- pile them all in , and it will be the easiest way of minding them . ''