about noon
Matilda , as if she had seen his heart as he spoke , clung round his neck and sobbed on his bosom : he put her peevishly away , crying `` Nonsense , nonsense -- eat your dinner . '' But he did not eat himself . About a week after this , Lord Elmwood went out two days for a visit ; consequently Rushbrook was for that time master of the house . The first morning he went a shooting , and returning about noon , enquired of Sandford , who was sitting in the room , if he had taken up a volume of plays left upon the table . `` I read no such things , '' replied Sandford , and quitted the room abruptly . Rushbrook then rang for his servant , and desired him to look for the book , asking him angrily , `` Who had been in the apartment ? for he was sure he had left it there when he went out . ''