noon
But when he stopped for the night , he and the landlord made a well-meaning attempt to get the mourner away to take some rest and food . But Gerard repulsed them , and when they persisted , almost snarled at them , like a faithful dog , and clung to the cold lead all night . So then they drew a cloak over him , and left him in peace . And at noon the sorrowful cart came up to the manse , and there were full a score of parishioners collected with one little paltry trouble or another . They had missed the parson already . And when they saw what it was , and saw their healer so stricken down , they raised a loud wail of grief , and it roused him from his lethargy of woe , and he saw where he was , and their faces , and tried to speak to them , `` Oh , my children ! my children ! ''