nearly noon
The same phantoms , though fainter in the daylight , still flitted about the cottage , and mingled among the crowd of familiar faces that were drawn thither by the news of Ralph Cranfield 's return , to bid him welcome for his mother 's sake . There they found him , a tall , dark , stately man , of foreign aspect , courteous in demeanor and mild of speech , yet with an abstracted eye , which seemed often to snatch a glance at the invisible . Meantime the Widow Cranfield went bustling about the house full of joy that she again had somebody to love , and be careful of , and for whom she might vex and tease herself with the petty troubles of daily life . It was nearly noon , when she looked forth from the door , and descried three personages of note coming along the street , through the hot sunshine and the masses of elm-tree shade . At length they reached her gate , and undid the latch . `` See , Ralph ! '' exclaimed she , with maternal pride , `` here is Squire Hawkwood and the two other selectmen coming on purpose to see you !