noon
He must be told without delay , even should he at once spurn her forever . She feared Williams , bearing in mind his threat , and determined first to pledge Dic to secrecy , and then to tell him of her disgrace . She wrote to him , begging him to come to her at once ; and he lost no time in going . He arrived at the Bays house an hour past noon , and Rita soon had him to herself in the front parlor . When they entered the room and were alone he took her hand ; but she withdrew it , saying : -- `` No , no ; wait till you hear what has happened . '' He readily saw that something terrible had transpired . `` What is it , Rita ?