hour before noon
He seems to wait for hours ; in reality only five minutes have passed when he hears the door of the great library open , and Gervase passes quickly through the apartment without seeing him , and goes on into the one where she awaits his coming . `` Are you really risen so early ? '' she says , with a sarcastic coldness in her voice . `` I remembered afterwards that it was too cruel to name to you any hour before noon . '' `` You are unkind , '' he answers . `` To hear what I hope to hear , you may be sure that I would have gone through much greater trials than even rising with the lark , had you commanded it . '' His words are light , but his accent is tender and appealing .