noon
More than once , even in her home town of Pineville , she had wandered away over the fields or out toward the woods , and had not been able to find her way back again . But always , at such times , Norah or Jerry Simms , or Daddy or Mother Bunker had come to find her and take her home . `` But I do n't see any of them now , '' said Vi , as she gazed around her . There were quite a number of persons on the street , for it was the noon hour , but the little girl knew none of them , and none of them seemed to pay any attention to her . I think , though , almost any one of those who passed by poor little Vi , standing there in the street , if they had known she was lost , would have gone up to her and tried to help her . But there were many children in the street , and several of them were standing still , looking not very different from Vi , except that she was crying -- not a great deal , but enough to make her eyes wet . `` I guess I 'd better walk along a little , '' said Vi to herself , after a bit .