nearly noon
He wrote her in reply , giving the letter to Wingate to mail . It ran : My sweet girl : -- I fancy you are a little downhearted to think I can not be with you any more soon , but you must n't be . I suppose you read all about the sentence in the paper . I came out here the same morning -- nearly noon . If I had time , dearest , I 'd write you a long letter describing the situation so as to ease your mind ; but I have n't . It 's against the rules , and I am really doing this secretly . I 'm here , though , safe enough , and wish I were out , of course .