noon
At daylight she dropped asleep and slept on into the morning . When she woke she faced her purpose wide-eyed and unflinching . Her fear was there also and she faced it . She was down too late for any train that could take her away before noon , and Tanqueray might come now at any time . She was so late that the day 's letters waited for her on the window-sill . In her agitation she nearly missed seeing them . One was from Gertrude , fulfilling punctually her pledge , assuring her as usual that all was well .