noon
They stood out like the three facts of a simple syllogism . There was nothing she could do for Richard Ayling now ... . No one knew she was here ... . A train for London passed Homebury St. Mary a little after noon . All the years of Bessie Lonsdale 's motherhood commanded her to act . Her muscles alone seemed to hear and obey . She was like a person hypnotized , who had been ordered with great detail and precision what to do .