noon
He felt the warm pressure of her fingers as though they still rested within his ; saw the marvelous quiet beauty of her eyes which had led him so far back into his past . Again out of this past they led him on -- on to -- he was checked as in his picture of her the ticking clock behind her intruded itself . There stood the sentinel to whom he must give heed . There stood the warning finger pointing to the seventh noon . Good Lord , he must have more room . He must get out into the dawn -- out where he could share these emotions which now surged in upon him with some virginal passion as big and fresh as the new-born day . He crossed to the window and looked out upon the dormant city .