noon
Even a caress wore its little mask of duty with Em . `` Of course he 's better , mother , '' she said more gently . It was Sunday , and the little valley was still with the stillness of warm , drowsy , quiescent life . At noon , the narrow road stretching between the shadowless barley-fields was haunted by slender , hurrying spirals of dust , like phantoms tempted by the silence to a wild frolic in the sunlight . The white air shimmered in wavy lines above the stubble . Em shut her eyes as she came out of the little church , as if the glare blinded her . Steve was waiting near the door , and a sudden , unreasoning hope thrilled her heart .