noon
Aunt Ri 's drawling tones , as she chatted volubly with young Merrill , chafed him . How could she chatter ! But when he thought this , it would chance that in a few moments more he would see her clandestinely wiping away tears , and his heart would warm to her again . They slept at a miserable cabin in one of the clearings , and at early dawn pushed on , reaching the Cahuilla village before noon . As their carriage came in sight , a great running to and fro of people was to be seen . Such an event as the arrival of a comfortable carriage drawn by four horses had never before taken place in the village . The agitation into which the people had been thrown by the murder of Alessandro had by no means subsided ; they were all on the alert , suspicious of each new occurrence .