noon
My poor sister could scarce sleep all that night ; and the landlady coming herself to wait on us at breakfast , Althea took occasion to ask her , did she know Mr. John Dacre ? and finding she did , she got from her particular information about his house , and the way to it , and the hours when he was to be found there ; all which the good woman imparted cheerfully , but could not help pitying our rashness in coming up to town . ` I live a dying life , ' she said , ` for terror of the contagion ; I would never have run into it ; ' which words we passed over at that time , but had to call them to mind after . According to her information , Mr. Dacre rarely stirred from home before noon ; so we set off betimes to find him . Will , walking behind us , looked about in amaze at the half empty streets , the many closed shops , and houses uninhabited , and at last , fetching a great sigh , he said , -- ` Methinks , mistresses , this whole town looks like a gaol , and the folk go about like condemned prisoners . ' ` Ay , ' says Althea ; ` but there are worse gaols within this gaol , Will . Here , the sun shines and the wind blows on us ; not so where your master lies ; ' and she hastened her steps , which were swift before .