noon
`` Yes . '' `` Well , now I 've come to the beginnin ' o ' my story . '' Mattie took that last delicious sip of tea at the bottom of the cup . `` He 's layin ' in bed , an ' Adam 's settin ' by the stove ; an ' I wanted to know if you would n't run in , long towards noon , an ' warm up suthin ' for 'em . '' `` Yes , indeed , '' said Mary Dunbar . `` I 'll be there . '' She rose , and Mattie , albeit she dearly loved to gossip , felt that she must rise , too , and be on her way .