noon
The penny thrown him went for a stamp ; the letter was pushed , with trembling haste , into a letter-box , and Ned had returned to his post among the squalid back-scenes of the gay performance before anybody had time to miss him . His heart beat in mad throbs , so that the boy was scarce able to sleep a wink that night . Hopes and fears jostled themselves in his excited brain . If the postman , old ` Uncle Dan , ' who trudged from Brattlesby town every day at noon with the Northbourne post-bag , only safely delivered the letter Ned had posted , all would be well . With the captain himself to the fore , every difficulty must , and would , be swept away . Then -- But with a sobbing catch in his breath Ned put aside the after . He was too weak from misery and ill-usage to finish the blissful result .