twelve o'clock noon
He felt that their eyes were upon him as he took the letter up and he also felt that in Alice Galleon 's gaze there was a wise and tender understanding of the things that he must be feeling . The roughness of the envelope , the rudeness of the hand-writing , a stain in one corner that might be beer , the stamp set crookedly -- these things seemed to him like so many voices that called him back . Five minutes ago those days in Bucket Lane had belonged to another life , now he was still there and to-morrow he must tramp out again , to-morrow ... . The letter said : _ Writing here dear Peter at twelve o'clock noon , the Red Crown Inn , Druttledge , on the road to Exeter , a little house where thiccy bandy-legged man you 've heard me tell about is Keeper and a good fellow and there 's queer enough company in kitchen now to please you . A rough lot of fellows : and a storm coming up black over high woods that 'll make walkin ' no easy matter on a slimy road , and , dear boy , I 've been thinkin ' strange about you and ` ow you 'll pull along with your kind friends . That nice gentleman sent a telegram as he promised to and says you pull finely along . Hopin ' you really are better .