noon
And in bravado , as it were , the mere refuse of human material was chosen to be made anew , with happiness , effectiveness , health ! She realized that a satisfactory understanding of it would come slowly ; but walking here in the winter sunshine along the village street , she had that sensation of strangeness which the child has on coming from the lighted playhouse into the street ... . The set vision that tormented her within -- that , too , might it not be erased ? About the post-office people were gathered gossiping and laughing , waiting for the noon mail to be distributed . Country-women in fur coats drove up in dingy cutters to do their Saturday shopping . The wood-sleds went jogging past towards the valley . School children were recklessly sliding down the cross street into the main road .