noon
A moment later they had passed through the door and vanished down the street in the direction of the Square . CHAPTER VI The morrow was one of those rare days when all nature seems to invite one to go forth and enjoy the good things within her keeping . The sunrise was menacing ; unless the wind shifted before noon it would be uncomfortably warm . Still , the air was bracing and fragrant with the soft perfume distilled by the pines . Stephen felt in tune with nature as he made his early morning toilet . He gazed the while into the garden from his widely opened window , and responded instinctively to the call of the countryside .