noon
She was quite beside herself , and the Contessa motioned the girl away . Aurora rose and disappeared round the corner of the house . Alone with her friend , Maddalena did her best to comfort her . There were arguments enough : it was barely noon , and Marcello had not been gone four hours ; he was used to taking long walks , he had probably gone as far as the tower , and had rested there before coming back ; or he had gone to meet Ercole on the road to Porto d'Anzio ; or he had gone off towards the Nettuno woods to get over his anger in solitude ; it was natural enough ; and after all , if he had gone to Rome as Aurora thought , no harm could come to him , for he would go home , and would surely send a telegram before evening . It was unlike him , yes ; but just at his age boys often did foolish things . `` Marcello is not foolish ! '' objected the Signora indignantly .