noon
`` He will come to-day , I have no doubt , '' Ellen said to herself on the morning after her husband 's funeral . She told Marian how she had written to Mr. Fenton on the day before , in order to avoid the agitation of a surprise , should he appear at the Grange without waiting to announce his coming . Nor was she mistaken as to the probability of his speedy arrival . It was not long after noon when there came a loud peal of the bell that rang so rarely . Ellen ran herself to the gate to admit the visitor . She had told him of her husband 's death in her last letter , and her widow 's weeds were no surprise to him . He was pale , but very calm .