noon
`` Gilbert Blythe has hurt my feelings _ excruciatingly _ , Diana . '' It is possible the matter might have blown over without more excruciation if nothing else had happened . But when things begin to happen they are apt to keep on . Avonlea scholars often spent noon hour picking gum in Mr. Bell 's spruce grove over the hill and across his big pasture field . From there they could keep an eye on Eben Wright 's house , where the master boarded . When they saw Mr. Phillips emerging therefrom they ran for the schoolhouse ; but the distance being about three times longer than Mr. Wright 's lane they were very apt to arrive there , breathless and gasping , some three minutes too late . On the following day Mr. Phillips was seized with one of his spasmodic fits of reform and announced before going home to dinner , that he should expect to find all the scholars in their seats when he returned .