noon before
And Mrs. Clyde , bending to kiss the glowing face upturned to her , replied : `` No , dear . It has been a beautiful party . But I 'm glad for all our sakes that Blue Bonnet Ashe has but one birthday a year ! '' IT was well on towards noon before any one in either the house or tent was stirring . Blue Bonnet and Ruth were the first to open their eyes , and they carried on a conversation in whispers for some time before waking the others . Ruth looked around the six beds in the nursery and smiled . `` It looks like a ward in a hospital , does n't it ? ''