noon
`` Poor fellow ! '' he said , with an uneasy surprise at his own compassionate impulse . `` Poor fellow ! '' The morning hours had passed ; the noon had come and gone ; and Mr. Brock had started on the first stage of his journey home . After parting from the rector in Douglas Harbor , the two young men had returned to Castletown , and had there separated at the hotel door , Allan walking down to the waterside to look after his yacht , and Midwinter entering the house to get the rest that he needed after a sleepless night . He darkened his room ; he closed his eyes , but no sleep came to him . On this first day of the rector 's absence , his sensitive nature extravagantly exaggerated the responsibility which he now held in trust for Mr. Brock .