noon
When Father Gaspara was taking leave , Ramona said , with quivering lips , `` Father , if there is anything you know of Father Salvierderra 's last hours , I would be grateful to you for telling me . '' `` I heard very little , '' replied the Father , `` except that he had been feeble for some weeks ; yet he would persist in spending most of the night kneeling on the stone floor in the church , praying . '' `` Yes , '' interrupted Ramona ; `` that he always did . '' `` And the last morning , '' continued the Father , `` the Brothers found him there , still kneeling on the stone floor , but quite powerless to move ; and they lifted him , and carried him to his room , and there they found , to their horror , that he had had no bed ; he had lain on the stones ; and then they took him to the Superior 's own room , and laid him in the bed , and he did not speak any more , and at noon he died . '' `` Thank you very much , Father , '' said Ramona , without lifting her eyes from the ground ; and in the same low , tremulous tone , `` I am glad that I know that he is dead . '' `` Strange what a hold those Franciscans got on these Indians ! '' mused Father Gaspara , as he rode down the valley .