midday
She went downstairs and made breakfast with an absent mind . The farm people came and went ; they spoke , and she answered ; but all was as a dream , except only the one grim reality that lay on her mind . She was being driven to despair . It was far on towards midday , and she was alone ; still no answer came to her question . She threw herself on the settle , and buried her face in her hands . She was in too much agony to weep . What had she done ?