noon
The room was full of women and maids , all waiting to throw flowers before the Maid , whom they dearly loved . Everything had a look of holiday , and all was to end in joy and great victory . So I laughed with the girls , and listened to a strange tale , how the Maid had but of late brought back to life a dead child at Lagny , so that he got his rights of Baptism , and anon died again . So we fleeted the time , till about the fifth hour after noon , when we heard the clatter of horses on the bridge ; and some women waxed pale . My own heart leaped up . The noise drew nearer , and presently She rode across and forth , carrying her banner in the noblest manner , mounted on a grey horse , and clad in a rich hucque of cramoisie ; she smiled and bowed like a queen to the people , who cried , `` Noel ! Noel ! ''