midday
Back in the house , Dick found Paula playing to the madrono sages , and ensconced himself on the couch to wait and wonder if she would kiss him good night when bedtime came . It was not , he recognized , as if they made a regular schedule of kissing . It had never been like that . Often and often he did not see her until midday , and then in the presence of guests . And often and often , she slipped away to bed early , disturbing no one with a good night kiss to her husband which might well hint to them that their bedtime had come . No , Dick concluded , whether or not she kissed him on this particular night it would be equally without significance . But still he wondered .