noon
It may be the end of you and me -- or , Bella , it may be the beginning . '' He steadied the boat with all his skill . It was drawn with frightful swiftness down the swollen stream . * * * * * Before noon Sylvie and Pete moved slowly across the open space and went back along their forest trail . They walked like lovers , and Sylvie 's arm helped to support him . Just before he stepped in among the trees he turned for a long , desolate , backward look . Now the hoop of green , once white as paper under the noon sun , and the level , circular rim of the forest are empty and silent except for the rattling of the river and the moving of the pines against the fixed , grave stars .