the twelve o'clock sun
There really would have been no harm in being kind to the little thing , and it was worth dancing with a dozen ballroom belles only to look at Hetty for half an hour . But perhaps he had better not take any more notice of her ; it might put notions into her head , as Irwine had hinted ; though Arthur , for his part , thought girls were not by any means so soft and easily bruised ; indeed , he had generally found them twice as cool and cunning as he was himself . As for any real harm in Hetty 's case , it was out of the question : Arthur Donnithorne accepted his own bond for himself with perfect confidence . So the twelve o'clock sun saw him galloping towards Norburne ; and by good fortune Halsell Common lay in his road and gave him some fine leaps for Rattler . Nothing like `` taking '' a few bushes and ditches for exorcising a demon ; and it is really astonishing that the Centaurs , with their immense advantages in this way , have left so bad a reputation in history . After this , you will perhaps be surprised to hear that although Gawaine was at home , the hand of the dial in the courtyard had scarcely cleared the last stroke of three when Arthur returned through the entrance-gates , got down from the panting Rattler , and went into the house to take a hasty luncheon . But I believe there have been men since his day who have ridden a long way to avoid a rencontre , and then galloped hastily back lest they should miss it .