about noon
Alec was once more condemned to the sofa , and Annie had to miss him , and wonder what had become of him . She always felt safe when Alec was there , and when he was not she grew timid ; although whole days would sometimes pass without either speaking to the other . But before the morning was over she learned the reason of his absence . For about noon , when all was tolerably harmonious in the school , the door opened , and the face of Robert Bruce appeared , with gleaming eyes of wrath . `` Guid preserve 's ! '' said Scrumpie to his next neighbour . `` Sic a hidin ' as we s ' a ' get !