noon
It never came into Archie 's mind that young John Graham was `` just trying him , '' as boys say ; and , in perfect simplicity and good faith , he gave an abstract of the chapter , with comments of his aunt 's , and some of his own upon it . It was not very clear or very complete , it is true ; but it was enough to change considerably the expression of John 's face as he listened . This was the beginning of a long conversation . John Graham had laid out for himself three hours of hard reading after his bracing tramp over the hills ; but it was past noon when he went in to see Mrs Blair before he went away . He did not think the morning wasted ; though in general , like all hard students , he was a miser respecting his time . When he was going away , he offered Archie any of his books , and said he would help him to understand them while he stayed at home . `` That wo n't be long now , however , '' he added .