noon
Lily had no desire that they should recognize any social difference in her ; but she had hoped to be received as their equal , and perhaps before long to show herself their superior by a special deftness of touch , and it was humiliating to find that , after two months of drudgery , she still betrayed her lack of early training . Remote was the day when she might aspire to exercise the talents she felt confident of possessing ; only experienced workers were entrusted with the delicate art of shaping and trimming the hat , and the forewoman still held her inexorably to the routine of preparatory work . She began to rip the spangles from the frame , listening absently to the buzz of talk which rose and fell with the coming and going of Miss Haines 's active figure . The air was closer than usual , because Miss Haines , who had a cold , had not allowed a window to be opened even during the noon recess ; and Lily 's head was so heavy with the weight of a sleepless night that the chatter of her companions had the incoherence of a dream . `` I TOLD her he 'd never look at her again ; and he did n't . I would n't have , either -- I think she acted real mean to him . He took her to the Arion Ball , and had a hack for her both ways ... .