noon
`` Yes , '' his father admitted . `` Poor devil ! He 'd much better be dead . '' The groom who drove Miss Sue Northwick down to the station at noon that day , came back without her an hour later . He brought word to her sister that she had not found the friend she expected to meet at the station , but had got a telegram from her there , and had gone into town to lunch with her . The man was to return and fetch her from the six o'clock train . She briefly explained at dinner that her friend had been up at four balls during the week , and wished to beg off from the visit she had promised until after the fifth , which was to be that night .