noon
Then there was a valuable jet necklace which Mrs. Billette had locked up with the silver for safe keeping . The girls were stunned by this last calamity . They could think of one solution and one only , and that was -- the gypsies . As Betty took leave of the girls at her own door that noon , after vainly urging them to stay to lunch -- they were too impatient to get home and spread the news to stop for anything , even lunch at Betty 's -- she heard the jangle of the telephone . `` Sorry you wo n't come in , '' she called . `` I 'll see you later , anyway ! '' and she flew upstairs to answer the insistent summons .