noon
He had seen Miss Good but a short time , and she had made no effort whatever to excite his interest ; nevertheless , she remained a tantalizingly vivid picture in his mind . It was extraordinary . So engrossed was he in his thoughts that he did not notice Allegheny Briskow until she stood close beside him . Then , indeed , he experienced a shock , for it was difficult to recognize in this handsome , modish young woman the awkward , ill-dressed country girl he had seen at noon . Allie was positively stunning . She was completely transformed from the soles of her well-shod feet to the tip of her French coiffure , and what was more astonishing , she had lost much of her self-consciousness and carried herself with a native grace that became her well . `` Why , _ Allie !