noon
At the back of her mind somewhere was the fixed idea , the fixed intention of finding love , a man . But as yet , at this period , the idea was in abeyance , it did not act . The craving that possessed her as it possesses everybody , in a greater or less degree , in those parts , sustained her darkly and unconsciously . A hot summer waned into autumn , the long , bewildering days drew in , the transient nights , only a few breaths of shadow between noon and noon , deepened and strengthened . A restlessness came over everybody . There was another short strike among the miners . James Houghton , like an excited beetle , scurried to and fro , feeling he was making his fortune .