noon
Ah , how little the readers dreamed of the heavy heart that put aside its troubles to labor for their amusement ! To-night she did not succeed as well as usual ; her manuscript was blurred , and , forced to copy the greater part of it , the clock struck three before she laid her weary head on her pillow . Mr. Graham sat by his daughter 's bed , with his elbow resting on her pillow and his head drooped on his hand . It was noon , and sunshine sparkled out of doors ; but here the heavy curtains swept across the windows and cast a lurid light over the sickroom . His heart ached as he looked upon the wreck of his once brilliant and beautiful child , and he shaded his face to conceal the tears which stole down his furrowed cheeks . The restless sufferer threw up her arms over the pillow , and , turning toward him , said in a voice sharpened by disease : `` Has mother gone ? I want to say something to you . ''