the morning, noon
I will be Mrs. Pettifer 's maid , and get the dinner ready for her by the time she comes back . Dear good woman ! She was so tender to me when she took me in , in the night , mother , and all the next day , when I could n't speak a word to her to thank her . ' The servants at Dempster 's felt some surprise when the morning , noon , and evening of Saturday had passed , and still their mistress did not reappear . ` It 's very odd , ' said Kitty , the housemaid , as she trimmed her next week 's cap , while Betty , the middle-aged cook , looked on with folded arms . ` Do you think as Mrs. Raynor was ill , and sent for the missis afore we was up ? ' ` O , ' said Betty , ` if it had been that , she 'd ha ' been back ` ards an ' for ` ards three or four times afore now ; leastways , she 'd ha ' sent little Ann to let us know . '