noon
The sympathetic woman took the boy 's hand and rubbed it gently , and , with many inquiries and much advice , she led him to the table . He forced himself to eat a little food and to drink something that the good woman had prepared for him , which , she declared emphatically , would drive off the `` wakeness . '' Bachelor Billy did not take his dinner with him that morning as usual . He said he would come back at noon to learn whether anything new had occurred in the matter of the lawsuit , and whether it would be necessary for Ralph to go to Wilkesbarre . He was really much concerned about the boy . Ralph 's conduct since the evening before had been a mystery to him . He knew that something was troubling the lad greatly ; but , whatever it was , he had faith that Ralph would meet it manfully , the more manfully , perhaps , without his help .