noon
`` Perhaps Carlotta 's right was greater -- _ could it be greater _ than her husband 's ? '' All day the queen had been restless and depressed , starting at the sound of a footfall only to drop her eyes again in disappointment and relapse into unquiet revery ; the weight of empire hung heavily upon her girlish spirit and she was unutterably lonely in the absence of Janus which seemed so unduly prolonged . It was the latest day that he had named for his possible absence , and still no courier had come to announce his return . The noon had been unusually sultry , the stifling heat of the upper chambers oppressed her and the ceaseless , rasping whir of the cicala smote her with weariness , but she resisted the attempt of her ladies to detain her in the cooler atmosphere of the _ voto _ , for in these underground chambers she could have no sight of the great plain beyond the boundaries of the palace-gardens -- and she preferred remaining in the halls that overlooked the terraces -- turning her eyes often in the direction of the forest . It was like a pall upon them all to see their young mistress , usually so gracious and responsive , wholly absorbed in her troubled revery ; but to-day her maidens played their sweetest strains upon their silvery lutes , without her answering smile ; the gentlemen of her court sought in vain for some diversion to distract her ; even the Lady Margherita could do nothing for her pleasure , while she watched in unobtrusive tenderness , feeling that quiet , however unsatisfying , was more welcome than speech . The pages , at a sign from the Lady Margherita , had dipped their fronds of feather in the great vases of mountain-snow that stood between the columns , and waved them about the chamber ; the queen followed their movements with a fleeting smile as this breath of coolness reached her , then fixed her eyes again , with a despairing look , upon the distant forest . `` She wearieth for the King , '' her maidens said low to each other , `` and verily he may come to-night , for the days have already numbered more than he giveth of wont to the chase . ''