noon
When she came back to her own room , her cheeks were burning with shame . The next morning she was miserable in fear lest he discover her weakness . He did not , though he marveled at a new tenderness in her that had been born in the night . The fourth day broke fair and Don found himself busy until noon helping with the decorations of green and of wild flowers ; for though only a dozen or so neighbors had been asked , Mrs. Halliday was thorough in whatever she undertook . Had she been expecting a hundred she could have done no more in the way of preparation except perhaps to increase the quantity of cake and ices . Don himself had asked no one except old Barton , of Barton & Saltonstall , and him he did not expect , although he had received no reply to his invitation . What , then , was his surprise when toward the middle of the forenoon , as he was going into the house with an armful of pine boughs , he heard a voice behind him , -- `` How do , Don ? ''