noon
`` Ah ! God forbid ! '' And he prayed that , rather than that , rather than have that last proof of the hardness of the heart that dwelt in that fair shape , he might not see her at all . He prayed that , rather than that , she might not come ; though -- so weak are men -- that she might come , and he might see how she bore herself , and how she carried off his knowledge of her treason -- was now the one interest he had , the one thought , prospect , hope that had power to lighten the time , and keep at bay -- though noon was long past , and he had fasted twenty-four hours -- the attacks of hunger ! The thought possessed him to an extraordinary extent . Would she come ? And would he see her ?