midday
Denise had , it appeared , given up gardening . Mademoiselle Brun did not know how she occupied herself at this time . She seemed to do nothing , and preferred to do it alone . Returning to the house at midday , mademoiselle went into the drawing-room , and there found Denise and Colonel Gilbert seated at the table with some papers , and a map spread out before them . Both looked up with a guilty air , and Denise flushed suddenly , while the colonel bit his lip . Immediately he recovered himself , and rising , shook hands with the new-comer . `` I heard that you had returned , '' he said , `` and hastened to pay my respects . ''