noon
Gradually an undemonstrative friendship sprang up between the pale old gray-haired teacher and the dark young black-haired girl . Delicately , too , but gradually , the companionship of Bles and Zora was guided and regulated . Of mornings Zora would hurry through her lessons and get excused to fly to the swamp , to work and dream alone . At noon Bles would run down , and they would linger until he must hurry back to dinner . After school he would go again , working while she was busy in Miss Smith 's office , and returning later , would linger awhile to tell Zora of his day while she busied herself with her little tasks . Saturday mornings they would go to the swamp and work together , and sometimes Miss Smith , stealing away from curious eyes , would come and sit and talk with them as they toiled . In those days , for these two souls , earth came very near to heaven .