noon
But they found that their fears had been wasted . The boys were in the kitchen hilariously helping Mrs. Irving get the breakfast to the accompaniment of continual good-natured scolding from that flushed and perspiring lady . It was Amy 's day to get the breakfast , but , as usual , she was late in getting down . `` You make a good deal more trouble than you mend , '' Mrs. Irving was saying as the girls came to the door , then added relievedly as she caught sight of them : `` For goodness ' sake , get these young ruffians out of the kitchen , my dears , or we 'll not have any breakfast until noon . '' So amid much fun and nonsense the boys were shooed forth into the bright sunshine of the out-of-doors , and all the girls fell to to help their chaperon , not wanting to put the extra work the boys made entirely on Amy 's shoulders . Breakfast was good , but they ate hurriedly , anxious to get at the business of the day . They wanted more than they had wanted anything in a very long time to find Professor Dempsey and tell him the joyful news that his sons were alive .