noon
He could not tell whether she spoke in bitterness or in mischief . `` No , '' he replied gravely , `` nor do I. '' She left him with a laugh ; and a little later he drove her and her companions away and afterward returned to Nasmyth 's house to find that his host had retired . Lisle followed his example and rising early the next morning they set off for the river , up which the sea-trout were running . They were busy all morning and it was not until noon , when they lay in the sunshine eating their lunch on a bank of gravel , that either of them made any allusion to the previous evening . `` Did you enjoy yourself last night ? '' Nasmyth asked . `` Fairly , '' Lisle responded , smiling .