noon
She was thinking that they would have to get up pretty early to beat Charlie Bannon . They were silent for a time -- silences were not so hard as they had been , a few weeks before -- both looking out at the storm , and both thinking that this was Christmas night . On the afternoon before he had asked her to take a holiday , and she had shaken her head . `` I could n't -- I 'd be here before noon , '' was what she had said ; and she had laughed a little at her own confession , and hurried away with Max . She turned and said , `` Is it done -- the belt gallery ? '' He nodded . `` All done . ''