nearly noon
There was no sign of recognition in his eyes ; and she constrained herself to gaze down upon him coldly . But when the _ Belle Julie 's _ bow touched the bank , and the waiting crew melted suddenly into a tenuous line of burden-bearers , she fled through the deserted saloon to her state-room and hid the fatal letter under the pillows in her berth . Another hour had elapsed . It was nearly noon , and the stewards had bridged the spaces in the row of square saloon-tables and were laying the cloth for the mid-day meal . Charlotte opened her door guardedly , as one fearing to face prying eyes , and finding the coast clear , slipped out to rejoin her aunt under the awning abaft the paddle-box . Miss Gilman shut her finger into the magazine to keep her place and looked up in mild surprise . `` Where have you been ? ''