midday
He 's gone down to his office for a minute . '' Phil had not heard that they were to have guests . She stood in the dining-room viewing the two extra places and wondering whom her father had asked . Usually on holidays , when the rest of the family assembled at Amzi 's , the Kirkwoods had eaten their midday meal alone . If he had asked the Bartletts ' to share this particular Christmas feast it must have been without premeditation , for she had herself visited the sisters on her way to Amzi 's , and nothing had been said about a later meeting . It was not like her father to invite guests without consulting her . Her mother 's return had changed the world 's orbit .