noon
And these are many -- they are in all corners of every land . The statesman is the leader of a nation -- the warrior is the grace of an age -- the philosopher is the birth of a thousand years ; but the lover -- where is he not ? Wherever parents look round upon their children , there he has been -- wherever children are at play together , there he will soon be -- wherever there are roofs under which men dwell -- wherever there is an atmosphere vibrating with human voices , there is the lover , and there is his lofty worship going on , unspeakable , but revealed in the brightness of the eye , the majesty of the presence , and the high temper of the discourse . Men have been ungrateful and perverse ; they have done what they could to counteract , to debase , this most heavenly influence of their life ; but the laws of their Maker are too strong , the benignity of their Father is too patient and fervent , for their opposition to withstand : and true love continues , and will continue , to send up its homage amidst the meditations of every eventide , and the busy hum of noon , and the song of the morning stars . Hester , when she re-entered the house , was full of the commonest feeling of all in happy lovers , -- a wonder that such intense happiness should be permitted to her . Margaret was lingering about the stair-head in the dusk , and met her sister at the door of their own apartment . `` May I come in ? ''