noon
Nevertheless the whole affair was unbearably vexatious and at last he felt that he could endure it no longer . `` I 'm a fool , '' he said , in a spirit of annoyance that came so close to anger that it led to an utter loss of patience . `` I 'll take the train for Aunt Mary 's to-day , and straighten out that mess in short order . '' It was Saturday , and he arranged to leave by the noon train . He laid in a heavy supply of bribes for his aged relative and of reading matter for himself , and went to the station with a heart divided ' twixt many different emotions . It was an unconscionably long ride , but he did get there safely about ten o'clock . It was a pleasant night -- not too cold -- even suggestive of some lingering Indian summer intentions on the part of Jack 's namesake .