noon
She also stipulated that her husband , on his coming , should be conducted to his apartments without any knowledge that any one was waiting for him . Major H. , captivated by the little English lady , entered into the full spirit of the programme and promised that he would personally attend to the matter . Grace was transferred to the new rooms , and thereafter had her meals served in her own dining-room . Three days later , about one p.m. , a message came that the Australian steamer had at noon been sighted outside the Heads , and was then entering the Golden Gate . The flowers were forthcoming ; the apartments were swiftly decorated ; then Grace , with the utmost painstaking , robed herself in her richest costume and seated herself in the private dining-room , with the sliding doors slightly ajar so that she could look through into the parlor of the suite without being seen . The suspense was fearful to her for half an hour . Would he really come ?