about noon
Was he to be humble to Mrs. Clover ? Should he beg pardon of Polly ? That kind of thing did not come easily to him . On a day of thin yellow fog he returned about noon from seeing to a piece of business , the result of which he had to report at once to Mr. Quodling . He entered the clerk 's office and asked whether `` the governor '' was alone . `` No , he ai n't , '' replied a friendly young man . `` He 's got a lord with him . ''