noon
And this was the day of the exhibition . Hattie and Sadie and Emmy Lou stood at the gate of the school . They had spent the morning in rehearsing . At noon they had been sent home with instructions to return at half past two . The exhibition would begin at three . `` Of course , '' Miss Carrie had said , `` you will not fail to be on time . '' And Miss Carrie had used her deepest tones .