noon
Edward started at once for Knapwater House . He strode rapidly along the high-road , till he reached a wicket where a footpath allowed of a short cut to the mansion . Here he leant down upon the bars for a few minutes , meditating as to the best manner of opening his speech , and surveying the scene before him in that absent mood which takes cognizance of little things without being conscious of them at the time , though they appear in the eye afterwards as vivid impressions . It was a yellow , lustrous , late autumn day , one of those days of the quarter when morning and evening seem to meet together without the intervention of a noon . The clear yellow sunlight had tempted forth Miss Aldclyffe herself , who was at this same time taking a walk in the direction of the village . As Springrove lingered he heard behind the plantation a woman 's dress brushing along amid the prickly husks and leaves which had fallen into the path from the boughs of the chestnut trees . In another minute she stood in front of him .