noon
And at six , the appointed fateful hour , arrayed in a new street gown of dark green cloth , she stood awaiting him . He was no laggard . The bell on the church near by was still singing from the last stroke when he knocked , flung open the door , and stood for a moment staring at her . Not that she had been shabby when he had wished to marry her at noon : no self-respecting woman is ever shabby ; not that her present costume had any of the elements of overdress ; far from it . Being a woman , she had her thrill of triumph at his exclamation . Diana had no need , perhaps , of a French dressmaker , but it is an open question whether she would have scorned them . Honora stood motionless , but her smile for him was like the first quivering shaft of day .