noon
`` I guess she 'll break down and confess to-day . '' They drove her to court in a Black Maria , packed among thieves , drunkards and disorderly characters . Upon her right side pressed a slant-faced youth with a huge nose and wafer-thin , flapping ears , who had snatched a purse in Houston Street . On her left , lolling against her , was an old woman in dirty calico , with a faded black bonnet ludicrously awry upon scant white hair -- a drunkard released from the Island three days before and certain to be back there by noon . `` So you killed him , '' the old woman said to her with a leer of sympathy and admiration . At this the other prisoners regarded her with curiosity and deference . Hilda made no answer , seemed not to have heard .