noon
Bedient 's business of the moment was to learn if she were right in being as she said , `` inexorable '' ; if she did not sometimes think that a finely-human heart might have come since to that flashing exterior , which had filled the girlish eyes . He could only draw from the whole savage darkness that the Other still lived in her heart . `` But he will not stay forgotten -- is that it , Beth ? '' Into the cold gray light of her mind , came a curious parable that had occurred to her , as they started out to ride this morning , before the great moments of high noon . And thus she related it to Bedient in the hatred which filled her , last of all from his imperturbable coolness : `` I saddled a great deal , even as a girl . In New York , years ago , the desire came to possess a horse of my own . I bought a beautiful bay colt , pure saddle-bred , rare to look upon ; but something always went wrong with him .