about noon
He was a handsome boy . He stood on the shore looking after the departing boat , laughing and calling out something . `` We wanted to have luncheon on deck , '' said Varney , abruptly , to Mrs. Marne , `` as the day is so uncommonly fine . But about noon there came up a little cloud no larger than a man 's hand -- it took a telescope to see it -- and the steward , a pronounced conservative , begged us not to trifle with our luck . It seems too bad to go indoors on such a glorious day . '' `` But if we were to stay outdoors , '' she laughed , `` would it have been such a glorious day ? These are the questions that make cynics of us all .