noon
`` And to think of me sitting in the bloomin ' old school-room while Sid Gray loses the game in me place ! '' For a week before the great event he lived in retirement . The one topic of conversation in town was the ball game , and he found the strain too great to be borne . The team was to go to Lexington on the noon train with a mighty company of loyal followers . Every boy and girl who could meet the modest expenses was going , save the unfortunate victims of the junior class at the academy . Annette Fenton had even had a dress made in the Clayton colors . As Sandy went into town on the important day , his heart was like a rock in his breast .