noon
At five o'clock he was still alive -- just that , Smith came out to say . Meredith sent his driver with a telegram to Helen which would give Plattville the news that Harkless was found and was not yet gone from them . Homer took the cab and left for the station ; there was a train , and there were things for him to do in Carlow . At noon Meredith sent a second telegram to Helen , as barren of detail as the first : he was alive -- was a little improved . This telegram did not reach her , for she was on the way to Rouen , and half of the population of Carlow -- at least , so it appeared to the unhappy conductor of the accommodation -- was with her . They seemed to feel that they could camp in the hospital halls and corridors , and they were an incalculable worry to the authorities . More came on every train , and nearly all brought flowers , and jelly , and chickens for preparing broth , and they insisted that the two latter delicacies be fed to the patient at once .