noon
In five minutes more he was asleep . THE next day the hay-mowing was completed , and a large portion of the hay already made carted away to be stacked . Kenelm acquitted himself with a credit not less praiseworthy than had previously won Mr. Saunderson 's approbation . But instead of rejecting as before the acquaintance of Miss Jessie Wiles , he contrived towards noon to place himself near to that dangerous beauty , and commenced conversation . `` I am afraid I was rather rude to you yesterday , and I want to beg pardon . '' `` Oh , '' answered the girl , in that simple intelligible English which is more frequent among our village folks nowadays than many popular novelists would lead us into supposing , `` oh , I ought to ask pardon for taking a liberty in speaking to you . But I thought you 'd feel strange , and I intended it kindly . ''