noon
But Acton could bring his pretty sweetheart home from a dinner now and then , and come into the old Melrose house for a precious half hour of murmuring talk , or could sometimes persuade her to leave a tea or a matinée early enough to walk a few blocks with him . In this fashion they slipped away from a box party one Friday afternoon , and found themselves walking briskly northward , into the neighbourhood of Alice 's house . Leslie had had , for several days , a rather guilty feeling in regard to this lovely aunt . It was really hard , rising at noon , and trying to see and please so many persons , to keep in close touch with the patient and uncomplaining invalid , who had to depend wholly upon the generosity of those she loved for knowledge of them . So Leslie was glad to suggest , and Acton glad to agree , that they had better go in and see Aunt Alice for a few minutes . As usual , Mrs. Liggett had company , although it proved only to be the pretty Miss Sheridan who had called upon Leslie 's grandmother on the first day of that mysterious indisposition that had kept the old lady bedridden almost ever since . Alice looked oddly tired , but her eyes were shining brightly , and Norma was charmingly happy and at ease .