Noon
and by slow degrees the idea of his own responsibility awoke in him . `` To-day is the day , '' he said to himself , with an involuntary movement toward the dark side of the room , as if he longed to bury himself anew in his long sleep . The factory bell rang , then other bells in the neighborhood , then the Angelus . `` Noon ! Already ! How I have slept ! '' He felt some little remorse and a great sense of relief at the thought that the drama of settling-day had passed off without him .