midday
He could say only , that it would , if caught , have been an answer to the thought disturbing him . Nataly drew Colney Durance with her eyes to step beside her , on the descent to the terrace . Little Skepsey hove in sight , coming swift as the point of an outrigger over the flood . The bearer of his master 's midday letters from London shot beyond Nataly as soon as seen , with an apparent snap of his body in passing . He steamed to the end of the terrace and delivered the packet , returning at the same rate of speed , to do proper homage to the lady he so much respected . He had left the railway-station on foot instead of taking a fly , because of a calculation that he would save three minutes ; which he had not lost for having to come through the raincloud . ` Perhaps the contrary , ' Skepsey said : it might be judged to have accelerated his course : and his hat dripped , and his coat shone , and he soaped his hands , cheerful as an ouzel-cock when the sun is out again .