noon
Going back to the wharf where they had landed , he found that Budge had been waiting for him almost fifteen minutes . `` What makes you so late , Perce ? '' he hailed . `` We want to ship these groceries and start for Tarpaulin before noon . '' Percy began passing the boxes and bags down aboard the dory . `` Sorry to have kept you waiting , '' he apologized . `` But I 've just been settling an account with an old friend . ''