noon
He had wakened , that morning , feeling a heavy weight in his head and a heavier one on his conscience . He had an unnecessarily clear recollection of Beatrix 's face as it had looked to him , the one sharply-outlined fact across a misty distance peopled with vague shadows . The eyes had been hurt and angry ; but the lips showed only loving disappointment . All the morning long , he had pondered upon the matter ; but by noon he had made his decision . The meeting was inevitable , so what was the use of trying to put it off ? `` Well , Sidney ? '' Beatrix said steadily , as soon as the last guest had made her nervous , chattering exit .