noon
And Ludovico had seemed in such good spirits -- so happy , so thoroughly contented . He did not want any one else to be with him . He was far enough from thinking of the fond and faithful heart that would have been made so happy -- oh , so happy -- if it had been given to her to sit there by his side . She sat thinking of all these things till she was roused from her reverie by the city clocks striking noon . It was three good hours later than she had supposed it to be ; and she jumped up from her seat , intending to hasten home to Signora Orsola Steno . All this Paolina stated partly to Signora Orsola on her return home , and partly in reply to inquiries subsequently made of her by inquirers far less easily satisfied . But chance -- or , what for want of a better designation , we are in the habit of so calling -- had decreed that Signora Orsola should not be delivered from her suspense so quickly .