noon
`` Was it ? '' Richard Carter went out to his car apparently well pleased with himself and his life . Harriet started for the Hawkes ' with a philosophic reflection or two as to the ephemeral quality of married quarrels . She brought Nina back at noon , a garrulous and complacent Nina , who could pity the elder Hawkes as girls who `` never had admirers . '' When they reached the driveway of Crownlands , Harriet recognized the car that was already there , and said to herself that Anthony Pope would join them for luncheon . But just as she and Nina were about to enter the cool , wide , dark doorway , Anthony himself passed them . He was almost running , and apparently did not see them .