noon
Mrs. Hopper , who was loquacious to a degree , told me long stories of his parents ' wealth , of the luxuries brought down with him , and of the beautiful pieces of furniture he had had sent down for his room , for his physician had recommended him to an absolutely quiet place for the entire summer . She burned with an irrepressible desire to have me make the acquaintance of this son of wealth and literature , either from the feminine proclivity for match-making , or because , possibly , she thought , having an intense reverence for writers , that our conversation would be of an edifying and uncommon character . I fear she was disappointed , for on the occasion of our first meeting , -- I believe Mr. Longworth came to see Mrs. Hopper on some trifling business , and I happened to be writing on the front porch , -- our remarks were certainly of the most commonplace type , and I saw a shade of disappointment steal across her face , as she stood by triumphantly , having accomplished her wish to `` get us acquainted . '' Mr. Longworth overtook me the next day , as I was returning listlessly , toward noon , from a long walk , my arms full of glowing St. John 's wort , the color of sunset . Back of me lay the long stretch of flat road , and the fields on either side were scorched with the sun . The heat was intolerable . Mr. Longworth would carry the flowers for me , and I resigned them , knowing that nothing is more distasteful to a man than to be treated like an invalid .