noon
Soon after breakfast on the day of the battle Grace came across to the parsonage , her swollen eyes and pallid face telling of a sleepless night . She could not bear her mother 's company that day , for she knew that she had never greatly liked Philip . Miss Morton was very tender and sympathetic . Grace was a little comforted by Mr. Morton 's saying that commonly great battles did not open much before noon . It was a respite to be able to think that probably up to that moment at least no harm had come to Philip . In the early afternoon the minister drove into Waterville to get the earliest bulletins at the `` Banner '' office , leaving the two women alone . The latter part of the afternoon a neighbor who had been in Waterville drove by the house , and Miss Morton called to him to know if there were any news yet .