noon
She had doubtless found him worthy of admission into it , though she did not reveal the reason why . After days and days of silence she had simply said , one evening , to Guillaume , that he had done well in bringing his brother to live among them . Time flew by as she sat sewing and thinking . Towards noon Guillaume , who was still at work , suddenly remarked to her : `` As Marie and Pierre have n't come back , we had better let the lunch wait a little while . Besides , I should like to finish what I 'm about . '' Another quarter of an hour then elapsed . Finally , the three young men rose from their work , and went to wash their hands at a tap in the garden .