noon
Arthur had run hurriedly toward the door leading to the outer vestibule . He opened it and disappeared . Through the high-arched windows to the left , a boy on a bicycle could be seen descending the long central avenue leading to the fore-court . It was just noon . The great clock set in the center of the eastern façade had chimed the hour , and as its strokes died away on the midsummer air Marcia was conscious , as her mother had been the preceding afternoon , of an abnormal stillness round her . She was in her sitting-room , trying to write a letter to Mrs. Betts 's sister about the boy mentioned in his mother 's last words . He was not at the farm , thank God !