noon
Beyond was a kitchen automobile at which men were obtaining coffee and food . `` Has Lannes come ? '' asked John . `` Not yet , but of course he 'll be here soon ; by noon , I fancy . '' John went out and took his breakfast with his comrades of the Strangers . The morning was uncommonly bright . There was not a trace of cloud in the heavens , which had turned to the soft , velvety blue that one sometimes sees in winter , and which can make a man fancy that it is summer when he looks up , rather than winter when he looks down .