noon
`` Mother said I must be home by noon . '' But Katy saw through this flimsy excuse . `` Oh , you 're backing out ! ` Tis n't anywhere near noon -- you 're just making an excuse to go home . I bet you 're ` fraid too . '' `` I 'm not , Katy Halford , I 'm not afraid the least speck and I can stay here just as long as you can ! '' Chicken Little repelled this slur upon her courage indignantly .