noon
Did you come in an open carriage ? But why are you here ? Did you miss your train ? '' Even as he spoke , before she silently shook her head , he knew she would have been back by noon had she missed her train . Max had come and sniffed suspiciously at her skirts before he recognized her , and then he rubbed his head against her knee , and reached up to be patted . She let her hand rest a moment on his head , and then with cold , stiff fingers tried to help her uncle take off her cloak , and lift her bonnet from her dripping hair . She made no effort to wipe the rain from her face , and Dr. Howe , with his big handkerchief , tried clumsily to do it for her .