noon
P.S. -- To-morrow without fail , unless some insurmountable obstacle prevents . It often happens that the skies are never so calm or so serene as before a storm . The day was beautiful and still ; one of those glorious days of February when , in spite of the tingling cold of the atmosphere , in spite of a winding-sheet of snow covering the earth , the sun smiles down upon mankind with a promise of spring . Sir John came at noon to make his farewell visit to Amélie . He had , or thought he had , her promise , and that satisfied him . His impatience was altogether personal ; but Amélie , in accepting his suit , even though she relegated the period of her marriage to the vaguest possible future , had crowned his hopes . He trusted to the First Consul and to Roland 's friendship for the rest .