noon
In one sense he verified the popular superstition , and was bewitched ; and , with the charming witch ever near to weave a new spell a dozen times a day , how could he disentangle himself ? He was too innocent , too unhackneyed , to understand what was going on in his own heart . The days and the hours fled away until Saturday -- the day before Christmas -- came . By noon Hemstead had finished his sermon , and Lottie had completed her mysterious fancy-work ; and both were ready for the festivities of Christmas eve . Mr. Dimmerly was a great stickler for the old English customs , and always had the yule-log brought in with great ceremony . With his own hands he suspended the mistletoe from the chandelier in the hall , which he always obtained from Dimmerly Manor in England . Lottie , without thinking , stood beneath , watching him , when , with a spryness not in keeping with his years , he sprang down and gave her a sounding smack in honor of the ancient custom .