noon
`` I think I 'll be glad when this fair is over . '' `` I think we 'll all be glad , '' replied Miss Parsons , frowning a little , for the cloth incident annoyed her . She , too , had been certain it was clean the afternoon before . Rosemary went home at noon , leaving half the cakes to do on her return . A large bowl of chocolate icing stood on the table , covered with a muslin cloth . There was no one to see the kitchen door open slyly fifteen minutes later , no one to see a figure dart in and make for the table . One hand lifted the muslin cloth , the other reached for the large tin salt shaker .