noon
He walked to the table , and , resting one hand upon it , stood for several moments with his head bent forward , thinking . As he raised it , a sigh escaped him ; nor was his countenance so serene as it had been half an hour before . Bressant 's recovery was now very rapid , as he had himself foretold . The wedding was finally fixed for New-Year 's Day at noon . They were to be married at the Parsonage ; afterward they might go South for two or three months , but it was understood that they would return to the village before settling permanently anywhere . `` If there is n't room for us here , we can board at Abbie 's ; it would be very pleasant , would n't it ? '' said Sophie ; but Bressant made no rejoinder .