midday
And the sanctuary that she sought was for every man , woman or child who wanted it -- only I could not and would not seek it . '' ` The covert of wings , ' '' I whispered to myself , as I went down the street to Mrs. Sproul 's as rapidly as possible to be rid of my own company . As I repeated the words that the parson had used to Mr. Jeffries I noticed one great white cloud with a dark center flash fire into another , to a great crashing and rumbling . `` I wonder if it is really going to storm , '' I speculated gloomily , as I turned into the Sproul gate , but the brilliant sunshine seemed to fling me a dazzling denial from every petal of the white clematis that wreathed itself across the front porch , under which Mrs. Sproul , arrayed in all the midday magnificence of good form , sat and waited for her guests . Mrs. Cockrell sat beside her and they were delighted to see me and demanded happiness from me which it was hard for me to give from the depths that had been stirred by my strange interview with Martha , to which I felt I ought to have a key , but could not find it anywhere . `` We were just saying , Charlotte dear , that this absurd school affair has completely overshadowed your wedding day , '' said Mrs. Cockrell , as she rocked back and forth in tune with her Irish point rose she was constructing . `` It seems to me a wedding ought to come before a school festivity . ''