noon
This one had the sad privilege of witnessing the tragedy . It was all happening in the little house of disjointed planks , and perhaps she took some comfort in the idea that she would be there at the last moment . It was easy to see , however , that she considered my efforts as some sort of rite which , at most , might comfort the dying . Before noon , when the haze had lifted before the sweep of a north east wind , one of the children called . The mother went out , hurriedly , while I stood at the open door . About a mile away a stunning white schooner was steaming towards the entrance of Sweetapple Cove . `` I 'm a-wonderin ' what she be doin ' here , '' said the woman , dully .