noon
The electric-car passed her , and she had a grateful sense of companionship . She looked after its diminishing light in the distance , and almost wished that she had stopped it , but car-fares had to be counted carefully . She began to dread unspeakably passing the factories . She told herself that there was no sense in it , that it was not late , that the electric-light made it like high noon , that there was a watchman in each building , that there was nothing whatever to fear ; but it was in vain . It was only by a great effort of her will that she did not turn and go back home when she reached Lloyd 's . Lloyd 's came first ; then , a few rods farther , on the other side of the street , McGuire 's , and then Briggs 's . Ellen had a library book under her arm , and she clutched her dress-skirt firmly .