midday
The effect of a blow is as proportionate to the texture of the object struck as to its own momentum ; and she had such a superlative capacity for being wounded that little hits struck her hard . It was not till the end of half an hour that two figures were seen above the parapet of the dreary old pile , motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque . Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise , and he vanished without making a sign . He returned at midday . Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her ; when conscious , severe . However , her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself , and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference . ` Ah , you were n't kind to keep me waiting in the cold , and break your promise , ' she said at last reproachfully , in tones too low for her father 's powers of hearing .