nearly noon
She waited a long time . For some reason which she did not herself know she felt cold with terror . She would not let her husband leave her alone in the kitchen for a moment . At last , when it was nearly noon , she bade him keep close at her heels , and went to the library door and knocked , and when no answer came , knocked again and again and again , louder and louder and louder . Then she made her husband open the door , with fierce urgings , and peered around his shoulder into the room . Then she gave one great shriek , and caught the old man by the arm with a frantic clutch , and was out of the house with him and screaming up the street . Saturday morning Burr and Madelon came riding into the village .