midday
Because Toft would look in again to-day or to-morrow , when he had finished on the conservatories at the Vicarage . None of this conversation reached old Maisie 's ears at the time ; only as facts referred to afterwards . As soon as the key was produced by Elizabeth-next-door , the old lady , treated as an invalid in the face of her own remonstrance , was inducted through the big kitchen or sitting-room , which she was sorry not to stop in , to a bedroom beyond , and made to lie down and rest and drink fresh milk . When she got up to join Widow Thrale 's and Toby 's midday meal , all reference to glass-mending was at an end , and Toby was making such a noise about the relative merits of brown potatoes in their skins , and potatoes _ per se _ potatoes , that you could not hear yourself speak . In spite of her separation from her beautiful new Guardian Angel , and her uneasiness about the nature of that dangerous illness -- for were not people dying of cholera every day ? -- she felt happier at Strides Cottage than in the ancient quarters Francis Quarles had occupied , where her position had been too anomalous to be endurable . Gwen 's scheme had been that Mrs. Masham should play the part Widow Thrale seemed to fill so easily .