noon
And so it is that Love is a troublesome little vagabond , who ought to have his wings clipped and his bow broken . There were few customers , for although her wools and silks were of excellent quality , and her baby-linen most practical , the Rue Dessous l'Arche is , after all , not the Rue d'Argentin . A little girl with a bandage round her face came and bought six needles , and a Young Person , whom Madame Chalumeau did not approve , spent several moments selecting a pair of red stockings . Otherwise the shopkeeper 's solitude remained undisturbed until towards noon , when the door opened and a short , brown-faced man , carrying a long whip , came in with a good deal of noise , and waked her as she dozed over her knitting . '' _ Bonjour _ , Thildette ! Frightened you , did I ? '' `` Oh , Colibris , it is you !