midday
With an expression of mingled wonder and envy , Ruth found a pencil and scrap of paper , and set to work to produce her own conundrum in the allotted half hour . With the exception of Amy , none of the girls could boast of any inspiration for the task . Every face wore an expression of stern and relentless absorption , in striking contrast to Amy 's air of carefree content . The ample provision made for a picnic dinner the previous day rendered the preparation of the midday meal unusually easy , and the girls gathered at the dinner-table less eager to sample the pressed meat and potato chips than to examine the folded slips of paper placed under each plate . Peggy was the first to unfold hers . `` Why is Peggy like Betsy Ross ? '' she read aloud .