noon
First they thickened in the corners of the room ; then spread and spread until the whole place turned vague and dusky . The first violence of his rage was spent , but Radcliffe , sullen and unconquered still , kept up the conflict in silent rebellion . He had not drunk his milk , so neither had Claire hers . The two glasses stood untouched upon her desk , where she had placed them at noon . It was so still in the room Claire would have thought the boy had fallen asleep , worn out with his struggles , but for the quick , catching breaths that , like soundless sobs , escaped him every now and then . It had been dark a long , long time when , suddenly , a shaft of light from a just lit window opposite , struck over across to them , reflecting into the shadow , and making visible Radcliffe 's little figure cowering back in the shelter of a huge leather armchair . He looked so pitifully small and appealing , that Claire longed to gather him up in her arms , but she forebore and sat still and waited .