noon
Erebus turned and scowled at him as he moved toward the door ; and she scowled at the door after he had gone through it and shut it firmly behind him . She hated to be reminded that she was a girl . The reminder rankled at intervals during her lessons ; and twice Mrs. Dangerfield asked her what was distressing her that she scowled so fiercely . At noon her lessons came to an end ; and in less than three minutes she was ready to go skating . She set out briskly across the common , and found Wiggins waiting for her at his father 's garden-gate . He joined her in a fine enthusiasm for the ice and talked of the certainty of its bearing with the most hopeful confidence . She displayed an equal confidence ; and they took their brisk way across the white meadows .