noon
How happy I was going to be ! But indeed I felt just then as if I had always been happy . It was almost as though some blessed stream of holy water had washed my memory clean of all the soilure of my recent days in London , for sure I am that if anybody had at that moment mentioned Ilford and the East End , the bricklayer and the Jew , or spoken of the maternity homes and the orphanages , I should have screamed . Towards noon the old doctor came back from his morning rounds , and I noticed that _ his _ voice was pitched higher too . We never once spoke about the great news , the great event , while we sat at table ; but I could not help noticing that we were all talking loud and fast and on the top of each other , as if some dark cloud which had hovered over our household had suddenly slid away . After luncheon , nurse being back with baby , I went out for a walk alone , feeling wonderfully well and light , and having two hours to wait for Martin , who must be still pondering over his papers at the `` Plough . '' How beautiful was the day !