noon
He now drew them forth very much in the way in which a man entrapped into a den of robbers might draw a pocket-pistol , and smoothed them out upon his knee . `` I thought , old friend , '' he said , turning to Tommy Dudgeon , `` that perhaps you might be willing to accept a trifling memento of our long acquaintance . And , indeed , you must n't say no . '' John Dudgeon was too deeply engaged with the twins to note what was said ; Tommy but dimly perceived the drift of his friend ; but upon Mrs. John the full truth flashed with the clearness of noon . The next moment the notes were being transferred to the hands of the astonished Tommy . John was still absorbed with his couple of babies . Mrs. John was ironing more furiously than ever .