noon
Good-by ! '' `` Good-by ! '' He passed through the gate , and down the street toward the center of the village . It was the noon recess and he was on his way back to school where he must report at one-fifteen sharp . He had an abundance of time , however , and he stopped in front of the post-office to talk with another boy about the coasting on Drake 's Hill . It was while he was standing there that some one called to him from the street . Seated in an old-fashioned cutter drawn by an old gray horse were an old man and a young woman .