about
noon
When will that be ? '' `` Perhaps we can go this afternoon , dear ; right after dinner , maybe . The man thinks the roads will be broken by that time . '' The storm had ceased , and it was cloudy most of the morning , but about noon the sun came out , and by two o'clock they prepared to start . The two kind old ladies were sorry to see them go , and begged them to come again some time to visit them . Patty said good-bye with expressions of real and honestly meant gratitude , for surely Mrs. Fay and her sister had been kindness itself to their young guests . `` But goodness , gracious , Philip , '' Patty exclaimed , as they went flying down the road , `` if I had had to stay there another night , I should have died ! ''