noon
`` Dear Pearl , how good you are to come and see us , '' burst from the lips of Dawn , when , two hours later , she entered the parlor of her teacher and clasped the hand of Miss Weston . `` I shall claim her to-day ; may I not , Florence ? '' and without waiting for a reply , she carried her to her own home . They talked long and earnestly ; Dawn 's description of her travels entertaining her guest exceedingly , and it was noon ere they were aware that one half of the morning had passed away . `` And now I have talked long enough , and will stop ; but may I ask you where you propose to spend the coming winter ? If you are not positively engaged , I want you to stay with Florence and myself . '' `` I am going to the quiet little town of B -- , to remain for an indefinite period with some dear friends , relatives of my dear Edward , who have just returned from Europe .