noon
In the early days of her life in Beryngford , when as the Baroness Le Fevre she had led society in the little town , Mrs Lawrence had been one of her most devoted friends ; Judge Lawrence one of her most earnest , if silent admirers . As `` Baroness Brown '' and as the landlady of `` The Palace '' she had still maintained her position as friend of the family , and the Lawrences , secure in their wealth and power , had allowed her to do so , where some of the lower social lights had dropped her from their visiting lists . The Baroness seemed to exercise a sort of hypnotic power over the fretful , nervous invalid who shared Judge Lawrence 's name , and this influence was not wholly lost upon the Judge himself , who never looked upon the Baroness 's abundant charms , glowing with health , without giving vent to a profound sigh like some hungry child standing before a confectioner 's window . The news of Mrs Lawrence 's dangerous illness was voiced about the town by noon , and therefore the Baroness felt safe in calling at the door to make inquiries , and to offer any assistance which she might be able to render . Knowing her intimate relations with the mistress of the house , the servant admitted her to the parlour and announced her presence to Judge Lawrence , who left the bedside of the invalid to tell the caller in person that Mrs Lawrence had fallen into a peaceful slumber , and that slight hopes were entertained of her possible recovery . Scarcely had the words passed his lips , however , when the nurse in attendance hurriedly called him . `` Mrs Lawrence is dead ! ''