noon
In an instant more she begged my pardon , almost with tears ; but I told her that if she also had been a `` Child of the Public , '' she could not more fitly have spoken to one of her father 's officers . I begged her to use me as her protector , and not to apologize again . Then we laid out the plans which we followed out that day . The officer 's manner had reassured her , and I succeeded in persuading her that it was certain we should have the trunk at noon . How much better to wait , at least so far , before she entered on any of the enterprises of which she talked so coolly , as of offering herself as a nursery-girl , or as a milliner , to whoever would employ her , if only she could thus secure an honest home till money or till aunt were found . Once persuaded that we were safe from this Quixotism , I told her that we must go on , as we did on the canal , and first we must take our constitutional walk for two hours . `` At least , '' she said , `` our good papa , the Public , gives us wonderful sights to see , and good walking to our feet , as a better Father has given us this heavenly sky and this bracing air . ''