noon before
I will stake my honor on that . She may suspect her , but if she was certain she would have spoken to me . '' `` Then it is her own mother , and most likely to be so . '' It was noon before John reached Hatton mill . He had received a shock which left him far below his usual condition , and yet feeling so cruelly hurt and injured that it was difficult to obey the physician 's request to keep his trouble to himself for a few days . The goddess Calamity is delicate ... her feet are tender . Her feet are soft , for she treads not upon the ground , she makes her path upon the hearts of men .